28/05/2017  Shatin  Race 6

At declaration time, C Y Ho was declared as the rider of both GOOD FOR YOU and REAL DEAL. It was established that C Y Ho had a firm commitment to ride GOOD FOR YOU. As such, the Stewards permitted W M Lai to be substituted as the rider of REAL DEAL. For this declaration error, C Y Ho was fined $2,000. BOSSIEE began only fairly. BRILLIANT DREAM and SUCH A HAPPINESS were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. After being brushed by TEAM SWEET, REAL DEAL shifted in at the start and bumped GOOD FOR YOU. BRILLIANT DREAM lost its left front plate near the 1300 Metres. Approaching the 1000 Metres, TEAM SWEET momentarily raced in restricted room between GOOD FOR YOU and SUCH A HAPPINESS which shifted in. Approaching the 500 Metres, RELENTLESS ME shifted out and bumped SILLY BUDDIES. SUCH A HAPPINESS, which was racing to the outside of SILLY BUDDIES, was shifted out away from that horse in consequence. Passing the 400 Metres, SUCH A HAPPINESS was bumped by C P POWER which shifted out to obtain clear running. BOSSIEE had some difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 300 Metres. TEAM SWEET was held up for clear running from passing the 200 Metres until near the 150 Metres. For the majority of the race, AUTOPAY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Apprentice M F Poon stated that he had been asked to ride BRILLIANT DREAM quietly in the early stages to ensure that it did not over-race. He said in a number of its previous starts, BRILLIANT DREAM had proved difficult to settle and he was asked to take the horse back in the field and switch it off if possible. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode BRILLIANT DREAM quietly in the early stages, however, the horse, despite his best efforts, commenced to prove very difficult to settle after the 1100 Metres and got its head up repeatedly when being checked away from the heels of TEAM SWEET approaching and passing the 1000 Metres. He said he had been instructed for BRILLIANT DREAM to make its running down the outside of horses to ensure that it had an uninterrupted run. He said because of this, although there was an opportunity to improve his position closer to the rail, he elected to shift to the outside of TEAM SWEET after the 700 Metres as he saw that SUCH A HAPPINESS, a horse he considered to be a strong chance in the race, commencing to shift out and improve its position at this time. He said he felt that shifting to the outside of TEAM SWEET at this time would allow him the opportunity to improve to be racing behind SUCH A HAPPINESS with a view to that horse then taking him into the Straight. He said although this resulted in BRILLIANT DREAM covering more ground than he otherwise would have hoped, nonetheless he felt that this was in the best interests of the horse at that time given that he had been instructed to shift BRILLIANT DREAM to the outside of runners. Apprentice Poon added that he followed AUTOPAY which was racing to the outside of SUCH A HAPPINESS into the Straight and then immediately on straightening shifted BRILLIANT DREAM to the outside of that runner to ensure that the horse had clear and uninterrupted running. Mr D J Hall, the trainer of BRILLIANT DREAM, confirmed that he had instructed Apprentice Poon to ensure that the horse was settled in the early and middle stages due to the horse’s previous tendency to over-race. He said BRILLIANT DREAM had performed well in a recent barrier trial and for this reason he was confident that the horse would race well today. He also confirmed that he had instructed Apprentice Poon, if possible to shift to the outside, however, he believed that Apprentice Poon had erred by shifting BRILLIANT DREAM wide earlier in the race than had been necessary. Apprentice Poon was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had covered unnecessary ground by shifting the horse to the outside of TEAM SWEET near the 700 Metres when there was a clear opportunity for the horse to save ground prior to the Home Turn. He was further advised to ensure that he rides his mounts in such a manner so that they can finish off their race as best as they are able. A veterinary inspection of BRILLIANT DREAM immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, BRILLIANT DREAM will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of and REGENCY BABY immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, REGENCY BABY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. C P POWER and SUCH A HAPPINESS were sent for sampling.