17/04/2019  Happy Valley  Race 7

J Moreira was fined $5,000 for striking MR SO AND SO behind the head on three occasions with an open hand after being placed in the barrier stalls. GIANT TURTLE began very awkwardly, shifted out and bumped CIRCUIT GLORY. After this, GIANT TURTLE got its head up for some distance. T H So, the rider of GIANT TURTLE, will be interviewed regarding the manner in which GIANT TURTLE began prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting to be conducted on Monday, 22 April 2019. PARTY TOGETHER began very awkwardly and lost ground. WINNING FAITH began only fairly. From the outside barrier, RUTHVEN was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, MR SO AND SO got its head up and travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover, however, was left racing wide and without cover until approaching the 600 Metres at which time the horse shifted in to race outside the lead. For some distance after the 800 Metres, WINNING FAITH was awkwardly placed behind KA YING STAR which raced close to the heels of DIVINE UNICORN which came under pressure. WINNING FAITH was again awkwardly placed behind KA YING STAR making the turn after the 600 Metres. Making the turn after the 600 Metres, KA YING STAR shifted out and bumped CHEFANO which became unbalanced. After the 600 Metres, DIVINE UNICORN gave ground abruptly and subsequently finished tailed out. A veterinary inspection of DIVINE UNICORN immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer”. The performance of DIVINE UNICORN was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, DIVINE UNICORN will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WINNING FAITH had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight when attempting to improve between PACKING DRAGON and RUTHVEN. When questioned, K Teetan stated that he was instructed to lead on CIRCUIT GLORY in tonight’s race which was consistent with the manner in which he had been instructed to ride the horse previously. He said he had ridden CIRCUIT GLORY on a number of occasions including when successful over the course and distance on 13 February 2019 and both he and Mr A S Cruz, the trainer of CIRCUIT GLORY, had formed the view that CIRCUIT GLORY is a free running horse which is not suited by having its stride broken by being restrained. He said when the horse was successful for him over the course and distance, he had ridden it positively for some distance in the early stages to ensure that it led the race. He said for this reason it was agreed that CIRCUIT GLORY’s best opportunity would be for it to be ridden as it was previously and that is to obtain the lead without being steadied. He said in accordance with his instructions he began well on CIRCUIT GLORY and rode his mount along in an endeavour to clear runners to his inside. He said when DIVINE UNICORN maintained its position to CIRCUIT GLORY’s inside, he allowed his mount to cross over with that horse and was able to obtain a position one horse off the rail outside DIVINE UNICORN approaching the 1200 Metres. He said he then allowed CIRCUIT GLORY to continue forward of DIVINE UNICORN after the 1100 Metres as he believed that to remain racing outside of that horse would have required him to restrain CIRCUIT GLORY which would have been contrary to his instructions. He added as he allowed CIRCUIT GLORY to improve its position past DIVINE UNICORN without having to ride his mount along, DIVINE UNICORN held its position inside CIRCUIT GLORY which required him to have to continue forward of that horse for longer than he had anticipated before being able to cross DIVINE UNICORN approaching the 900 Metres. He said the circumstances of the race resulted in the tempo being quicker than had been anticipated, however, given the manner in which the horse had finished off the race when ridden previously by him, he believed it would have been contrary to his instructions not to allow CIRCUIT GLORY to continue forward of DIVINE UNICORN. He said however that due to the tempo of the race being fast and also due to CIRCUIT GLORY being challenged by MR SO AND SO from the 600 Metres, CIRCUIT GLORY was then not able to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of CIRCUIT GLORY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. The Stewards will interview Mr Cruz regarding the instructions given to Jockey Teetan and previous riders of CIRCUIT GLORY prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting to be conducted on Monday, 22 April 2019. A veterinary inspection of WINNING FAITH immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, WINNING FAITH will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. KA YING STAR, TURIN REDSTAR and RIVET were sent for sampling. <18/4/2019 Additional Veterinary Report>The Veterinary Officer reported that MR SO AND SO was lame in its left front leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, MR SO AND SO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. <22/4/2019 17 April 2019 Happy Valley Racemeeting - Race 7 (591)>The Stewards today interviewed T H So regarding the manner in which he jumped from the barriers on GIANT TURTLE in this race. T H So stated that GIANT TURTLE began somewhat awkwardly and this resulted in him becoming unbalanced and coming out on the horse’s mouth. T H So was placed on notice regarding the necessity for horses to begin well wherever possible. He was also advised that were he to begin on horses in a similar manner in the future, further action may be taken. <24/4/2019 17 April 2019 Happy Valley Racemeeting – Race 7 (591)>The Stewards tonight interviewed Mr A S Cruz, the trainer of CIRCUIT GLORY, regarding the instructions he provided to K Teetan in this race. Mr Cruz confirmed that he had instructed Jockey Teetan to ride the horse positively and lead given that it had previously been successful when ridden in this manner. He said he studied the field and believed that CIRCUIT GLORY would have more speed than other runners in the race and felt that the horse would be able to obtain the lead without having to be hard ridden to do so. He said as DIVINE UNICORN was having its first race start in Hong Kong, he was unaware of that horse’s racing pattern and was of the opinion that DIVINE UNICORN contesting for the lead had required Jockey Teetan to make more use of CIRCUIT GLORY in the early and middle stages to obtain the lead which resulted in the race being run at a tempo faster than anticipated. He added however he was satisfied that K Teetan had ridden CIRCUIT GLORY in accordance with his instructions.