28/11/2018  Happy Valley  Race 2

COOL ARMY shifted in at the start and bumped COUR VALANT, causing both horses to become badly unbalanced. HORSE BULLET and LE PEGASE bumped at the start. TRIUMPHANT LIGHT shifted in on jumping, causing VICTORY MARCH to be crowded for room when taken in onto ROOKIE STAR. In this incident, TRIUMPHANT LIGHT became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by VICTORY MARCH. From the outside barriers, TRIUMPHAL WIN and FORTUNE PATROL were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. COUR VALANT got its head on the side and lay out throughout the middle stages. Making the turn near the 500 Metres, FOREVER POSH got its head on the side and hung out and then made the Home Turn awkwardly, resulting in ROOKIE STAR being taken wider. Rounding the Home Turn, VICTORY MARCH was hampered when shifted out abruptly away from the heels of TRIUMPHANT LIGHT which gave ground quickly. FORTUNE PATROL, which was racing outside TRIUMPHANT LIGHT, was hampered when taken wider by that horse and VICTORY MARCH, which was racing to the outside of FORTUNE PATROL, was inconvenienced. Passing the 150 Metres, FORTUNE PATROL was shifted out away from the heels of FOREVER POSH to obtain clear running. In the Straight, COUR VALANT got its head on the side and lay in under pressure. When questioned regarding his riding of LE PEGASE, primarily after the 700 Metres, Apprentice H T Mo stated that he was instructed to obtain a forward position on LE PEGASE and lead if possible. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode LE PEGASE positively in the early stages and was able to shift across to race on the rail in the lead approaching the 1100 Metres. He said as it took LE PEGASE some time to obtain the lead, this resulted in the early section of the race being run faster than he had hoped. He said he was also asked to commence to improve his position approaching the 600 Metres as LE PEGASE is one-paced. He said for this reason after the 700 Metres he commenced to ride his mount along and near the 550 Metres rode LE PEGASE more vigorously to ensure that it was not left flat-footed. Mr K H Ting, the trainer of LE PEGASE, confirmed that he had asked for the horse to be ridden in a forward position. He said it was anticipated that LE PEGASE would have sufficient speed to lead, however, he had instructed Apprentice Mo that if another horse was intent on leading, it was acceptable for him to race outside that horse. He said in the event that LE PEGASE was able to obtain an outright lead, he had asked Apprentice Mo to maintain the lead and to commence his run from near the 500 Metres as LE PEGASE is somewhat one-paced. He said he had further instructed Apprentice Mo that if LE PEGASE was required to race outside another runner in the middle stages, then he should commence to improve his position earlier than this so as to prevent LE PEGASE from being out-sprinted when the tempo of the race increased. He added he was disappointed in Apprentice Mo’s ride on LE PEGASE in that, given the tempo of the race in the early stages, Apprentice Mo had made too much use of the horse at too early a stage which, in his opinion, resulted in it not being able to finish off the race as strongly as it had previously. Apprentice Mo was advised that his riding of LE PEGASE in this race after the 700 Metres had come under notice as this was not the first occasion this season that the Stewards had spoken to him in respect of his judgement during a race. He was severely reprimanded and, in the presence of his allocated trainer, Mr C S Shum, was placed on notice that he must, wherever circumstances permit, ride his mounts in accordance with his instructions and give them every opportunity to finish off their races. When questioned, D Whyte stated that TRIUMPHANT LIGHT became unbalanced when giving ground abruptly approaching and passing the 400 Metres. He said because of the manner in which TRIUMPHANT LIGHT gave ground as quickly as it did, he eased it down after entering the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection of TRIUMPHANT LIGHT immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. The performance of TRIUMPHANT LIGHT, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, TRIUMPHANT LIGHT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LE PEGASE, ROOKIE STAR and COME ON WONGCHOY were sent for sampling.