02/04/2017  Shatin  Race 8

From the outside barrier, GENERAL DINO was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. DR LISTENING shifted out at the start and bumped PERFECT LIFELINE. WINSTON’S LAD began awkwardly. Shortly after the start, HAPPY BAO BEI shifted out and bumped CELESTIAL ARROW. CELESTIAL ARROW lost its right hind plate after the 1100 Metres. H W Lai (MR RIGHT) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in passing the 950 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of HAPPY BAO BEI, causing that horse to be checked and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. H W Lai was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 26 April 2017 and to expire on Monday, 1 May 2017 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Lai’s good race riding record. PERFECT LIFELINE made the turn after the 900 Metres awkwardly and was then taken wide and without cover by DR LISTENING which shifted out. When questioned, B Prebble stated that after the 900 Metres he shifted DR LISTENING away from the rail into a one-off position following CELESTIAL ARROW. He said at this time the pace of the race was not strong and when PERFECT LIFELINE was racing to the outside of DR LISTENING, he elected to shift out into a three wide position passing the 700 Metres to ensure that PERFECT LIFELINE was not able to improve around DR LISTENING. He said he anticipated that CELESTIAL ARROW would continue to follow BRAVO WATCHMAN until further around the turn, however, that horse shifted out near the 550 Metres, resulting in DR LISTENING being taken wider. He said although DR LISTENING was required to cover some ground as a result of shifting out passing the 700 Metres, he felt that, given the tempo of the race and the position of the favourite which was racing more prominently than DR LISTENING, he felt that at the time it was in the best interests of his mount to commence to improve earlier than what otherwise might be the case. When questioned, Z Purton stated that after shifting to the outside of BRAVO WATCHMAN rounding the Home Turn, he placed CELESTIAL ARROW under pressure. He said CELESTIAL ARROW has a high head carriage and when he observed WINSTON’S LAD commencing to shift out to his inside and DR LISTENING shifting in approaching the 300 Metres, he momentarily steadied his mount to ensure that he had sufficient room to continue forward. He said after this he resumed riding CELESTIAL ARROW and the horse came under pressure. He added passing the 100 Metres DR LISTENING, which was racing in advance of CELESTIAL ARROW, shifted in and he again momentarily steadied CELESTIAL ARROW so as to ensure that he avoided the heels of that horse. He said after this as CELESTIAL ARROW was well beaten, he did not continue to ride the horse out to the end of the race. Z Purton was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, he must, wherever circumstances permit, continue to ride his mounts out at least hands and heels to the end of the race. When questioned, D Whyte stated that on jumping DUKEDOM lifted its front feet off the ground and began awkwardly, resulting in the horse losing ground. He said after this he shifted his mount across behind runners to obtain cover, however, after the 1000 Metres as DUKEDOM was commencing to get out of its ground, he slapped the horse down the shoulder with the whip and rode it along to have it take a closer position to the main body of the field. He said in the middle stages DUKEDOM was reluctant to maintain its position inside GENERAL DINO and he had to ride his mount along to have it maintain its positon inside that horse. He added rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight he placed DUKEDOM under pressure, however, the horse initially did not respond to his riding. He said after the 200 Metres DUKEDOM then commenced to finish off the race more satisfactorily and he shifted his mount to the outside of NUMERO UNO after the 100 Metres as he was reluctant to attempt to obtain very tight running between NUMERO UNO and MR RIGHT which was weakening quickly. He said after shifting to the outside of NUMERO UNO, DUKEDOM was not able to obtain clear running and consequently was not able to be tested over the concluding stages. BRAVO WATCHMAN and WINSTON’S LAD were sent for sampling.