25/06/2017  Shatin  Race 6

BOSSIEE was very slow to begin. Having regard to BOSSIEE’s previous record in respect of being slow to begin, the Stewards ruled that the horse must barrier trial satisfactorily prior to its next race start. FULL GLORY began awkwardly and lost ground. HIGH ENERGY was crowded for room on jumping between RELENTLESS ME and AMBITIOUS HEART which began awkwardly and shifted out. From the outside barriers, ENDEARING and REAL DEAL were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. After being crossed by JOLLY BOUNTIFUL after the 1200 Metres, SWEET HOME commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse passing the 1000 Metres. Passing the 800 Metres, AUTOPAY got its head up for some distance when awkwardly placed behind RELENTLESS ME. LAUGH OUT LOUD, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of AUTOPAY in consequence. Passing the 700 Metres, GOOD FOR YOU (C Y Ho) commenced to prove very difficult to settle and shifted out after being checked away from the heels of AMBITIOUS HEART. ENDEARING, which was following, improved quickly into tight running between GOOD FOR YOU which was attempting to be shifted back in to resume its position and DIAMOND MYSTERIOUS which shifted out. When GOOD FOR YOU, which was continuing to prove difficult to settle, was shifted back in near the 650 Metres, ENDEARING was checked and lost ground. Having regard to the racing manners of GOOD FOR YOU, the fact that ENDEARING improved quickly to be racing to its inside and the shift outwards from DIAMOND MYSTERIOUS, the Stewards believed that in the circumstances C Y Ho should be reprimanded and advised to exercise more care in similar circumstance when attempting to resume previously held positions. FULL GLORY had some difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 150 Metres and then for some distance after this was unable to secure clear running between REWARDING FLYER and AMBITIOUS HEART. Then close to the finishing line, FULL GLORY was crowded for room between AMBITIOUS HEART and REWARDING FLYER which shifted out marginally. Passing the 50 Metres, DIAMOND MYSTERIOUS raced tight inside GOOD FOR YOU. The Stewards considered a protest/objection lodged by K C Leung, the rider of the second placed, AUTOPAY, against RELENTLESS ME (J Moreira) being declared the winner alleging interference passing the 400 Metres. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, it was established that passing the 400 Metres AUTOPAY was inconvenienced when disappointed for running inside RELENTLESS ME which shifted in after making the Home Turn awkwardly. Having regard to the relatively minor nature of this incident and where it occurred together with the margin between the horses at the end of the race, the Stewards overruled the protest/objection and declared weighed-in on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. At a subsequent inquiry, K C Leung was fined the sum of $5,000 for lodging what was deemed to be a frivolous protest/objection. When questioned, C Murray stated that he had been asked to attempt to lead on REWARDING FLYER and for this reason he rode his mount vigorously in the early stages. He said he continued to ride REWARDING FLYER along until after passing the 1300 Metres and as JOLLY BOUNTIFUL, SWEET HOME and AUTOPAY were all maintaining their positions to the inside of REWARDING FLYER and RELENTLESS ME was showing superior speed to the outside of his mount, he elected to shift in and obtain a trailing position approaching the 1200 Metres rather than continue to make use of his mount in an attempt to cross runners to his inside. He said he was concerned that if REWARDING FLYER was unable to show sufficient pace to cross runners to its inside, the horse would be left racing wide and without cover and he felt that it was in the best interests of REWARDING FLYER to obtain a position closer to the rail albeit further back in the field than had been intended. A veterinary inspection of LAUGH OUT LOUD and HIGH ENERGY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. JOLLY BOUNTIFUL, RELENTLESS ME and AUTOPAY were sent for sampling.