01/10/2017  Shatin  Race 10

On arrival at the Start, the tongue tie applied to HOUSE OF FUN was replaced. From wide barriers, ANDOYAS, SOUTHERN LEGEND and KEY WITNESS were steadied in the early stages and shifted across to obtain cover. When being steadied from the barriers, LINE SEEKER shifted out and bumped HIGH FIVE. On the first turn near the 850 Metres, JUMBO LUCK momentarily raced in restricted room inside PINGWU SPARK which was taken in slightly by SHAMAL. A short distance later, when PINGWU SPARK was steadied, HARD PROMISE was checked away from the heels of that horse and shifted out. PABLOSKY travelled wide and without cover from the 800 Metres. LINE SEEKER travelled keenly in the middle stages. K C Leung (PINGWU SPARK) dropped his whip after leaving 200 Metres. PINGWU SPARK shifted out under pressure over the concluding stages. When questioned regarding his riding of LINE SEEKER from the entrance to the Straight until near the 200 Metres, Apprentice M F Poon stated that rounding the Home Turn he had the opportunity to shift out and to follow SOUTHERN LEGEND which he felt was an ideal horse to take his mount into the race. He said therefore on straightening with HIGH FIVE racing to his outside, he continued to follow SOUTHERN LEGEND as that horse commenced to improve and it was not until inside the 300 Metres that he was able to direct LINE SEEKER out around the heels of SOUTHERN LEGEND albeit he was still at least two lengths adrift of SOUTHERN LEGEND at that point. He added he then commenced to place LINE SEEKER under more pressure and attempted to draw his whip from his left hand through to his right hand approaching the 200 Metres, however, it was at this stage that his whip became entangled in his reins and he took some distance to get his whip out and in the process he briefly lost control of LINE SEEKER which shifted out and hampered the runner to his outside HIGH FIVE. He said after being corrected and when he was able to pull the whip, LINE SEEKER closed off the race steadily. After being questioned in depth about his tactics, Apprentice Poon acknowledged that, in retrospect, it was available for him to have ridden LINE SEEKER with more urgency and to take up a closer position to SOUTHERN LEGEND in the early part of the Straight prior to shifting out near the 250 Metres. Apprentice Poon was severely reprimanded regarding his lack of judgement in the early part of the Straight. He was also advised that his riding of LINE SEEKER, particularly the lack of control of his mount when endeavouring to pull his whip through to his right hand, had come under notice. He was told to ensure that he rides his mounts in such a manner so that his tactics are not open to query. A veterinary inspection of HOUSE OF FUN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PINGWU SPARK and SOUTHERN LEGEND were sent for sampling.