09/01/2019  Happy Valley  Race 5

When being steadied to be shifted across behind runners from a wide barrier, THE SYLPH was bumped by JOLLY CONVERGENCE which shifted in. THE SYLPH then shifted in and bumped OPEN HOUSE. C Y Ho (UNIVERSAL GO GO) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the winning post on the first occasion he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of JOLLY CONVERGENCE, resulting in that horse being directed in onto CHAPARRAL STAR which in turn was taken in and causing both SPRING WIN and CHARITY GRAND to be unnecessarily crowded for room and to be hampered. TEN FLAMES, which was following SPRING WIN, was shifted out away from the heels of that horse, resulting in OPEN HOUSE being taken wider and causing THE SYLPH, which was travelling keenly, being inconvenienced. THE SYLPH then got its head up for some distance after this as the horse was steadied to obtain cover behind OPEN HOUSE. C Y Ho was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 30 January 2019 and to expire on Sunday, 3 February 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, C Y Ho was fined $15,000. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, JOLLY CONVERGENCE was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 600 Metres, CHAPARRAL STAR raced tight between JOLLY CONVERGENCE and CHARITY GRAND. Passing the 300 Metres, SPRING WIN was shifted to the outside of CHAPARRAL STAR to obtain clear running. When questioned, K Teetan stated that on jumping OPEN HOUSE made contact with the outside gate which resulted in his left foot being jammed. He said because of this he had a number of looks down to his left shortly after the start. When questioned, S de Sousa (HAPPY WARRIOR) stated that after racing behind UNIVERSAL GO GO in the early and middle stages, he felt that the tempo of the race was not strong after the 900 Metres and he was concerned that both SPARKLING SWORD and UNIVERSAL GO GO, the front runners of the race, would have an advantage if the race continued to be run slowly and which would be to the detriment to HAPPY WARRIOR. He said he therefore elected to shift his mount to the outside of UNIVERSAL GO GO at the 800 Metres in order to make a forward move around that horse. He said however as he moved HAPPY WARRIOR out, the tempo of the race then increased which would have required him to make too much use of the horse to continue forward. He said as he improved to the outside of the hindquarters of UNIVERSAL GO GO, it was then not available for him to shift back in behind that horse and this resulted in HAPPY WARRIOR racing three wide and without cover after the 800 Metres. A veterinary inspection of OPEN HOUSE immediately following the race revealed the horse to be displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, OPEN HOUSE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of CHAPARRAL STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. UNIVERSAL GO GO and HAPPY WARRIOR were sent for sampling.