19/03/2017  Shatin  Race 10

HEALTHY JOYFUL shifted out at the start and bumped MIGHTY MAVERICK. WATER DIVINER was checked on jumping when crowded for room between BULLISH SMART and GOLD LAND which shifted out abruptly despite the efforts of its rider, WESTERN EXPRESS began only fairly. Passing the 700 Metres, JOLLY JOLLY was taken wider by HEALTHY JOYFUL. After the 600 Metres, GOLD LAND lay in and made the Home Turn awkwardly. GOLD LAND continued to lay in and passing the 400 Metres shifted in and brushed the running rail. Apprentice H N Wong (FLYING TOURBILLON) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of MIGHTY MAVERICK, causing that horse to be checked and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. In the circumstances, Apprentice Wong was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 9 April 2017 and to expire on Thursday, 13 April 2017 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). For the majority of the race, SUPER LIFELINE travelled wide and without cover. After the race, K Teetan stated that, from the outside barrier, he had been asked to shift MIGHTY MAVERICK across behind runners to ensure that the horse did not race unnecessarily wide. He said MIGHTY MAVERICK travelled reasonably in the run and then in the early part of the Straight commenced to close off the race only fairly before striking interference approaching the 200 Metres. He said at the time of suffering interference MIGHTY MAVERICK was not travelling strongly and he did not believe that the horse would have finished much closer to the placegetters than it did. A veterinary inspection of MIGHTY MAVERICK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of GOLD LAND and WATER DIVINER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. WESTERN EXPRESS and SUPER LIFELINE were sent for sampling.