18/06/2017  Shatin  Race 6

MCQUEEN began awkwardly and lost ground. MISTER MONTE and AMAZING AGILITY bumped at the start. Then from the outside barriers, MISTER MONTE and AMAZING AGILITY were shifted across behind runners. ENSURING was crowded for room on jumping between UP AND COMING and LOTUS STRIKES BACK which was bumped and taken out by GORGEOUS AGAIN. After the 1500 Metres, MISTER MONTE was ridden along to maintain its position inside VICTORY BOYS after being reluctant to remain racing inside that horse. Passing the 600 Metres, ENSURING and LOTUS STRIKES BACK raced tight as ENSURING shifted out. Passing the 400 Metres, MCQUEEN and UP AND COMING raced tight. Approaching the 300 Metres, U Rispoli (MISTER MONTE) dropped his whip. Throughout the race, AMAZING AGILITY travelled wide and without cover. Apprentice M F Poon (VICTORY BOYS) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 50 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of GORGEOUS AGAIN, causing that horse to be checked and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. Apprentice Poon was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 9 July 2017 and to expire on Thursday, 13 July 2017 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). When questioned, K C Leung stated that after having to make no use of GORGEOUS AGAIN in the early and middle stages and as the horse had a light weight, he shifted GORGEOUS AGAIN out away from the heels of UP AND COMING passing the 700 Metres as that horse was being niggled along and he did not want GREEN DISPATCH, which had enjoyed a soft lead, to gain too much of an advantage over GORGEOUS AGAIN. He said although this resulted in GORGEOUS AGAIN racing three wide and without cover, he believed it was in the horse’s best interests to improve at this time so that GORGEOUS AGAIN was able to be as close as possible to GREEN DISPATCH rounding the Home Turn. A veterinary inspection of AMAZING AGILITY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. VICTORY BOYS and GREEN DISPATCH were sent for sampling.