09/10/2019  Happy Valley  Race 8

BLITZING was withdrawn on raceday afternoon by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (injury to left hind leg during transport to Happy Valley). Before being allowed to race again, BLITZING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. In carrying out a routine track inspection of the course after Race 7 and before the commencement of this race, Club staff identified three small opened containers of paint on the Back Straight of the track. The material was cleared away immediately. It was decided to hold horses behind the starting gates to ensure that the start of this race would only commence when the Stewards were satisfied that it was safe to proceed. An additional number of security staff were deployed alongside the normal patrolling security staff to ensure no similar incident could occur. After noting a report from Club security staff, the Stewards were satisfied that this race could commence. Consequently the starting time for this event was delayed. MONEY BACK and NORDIC WARRIOR began only fairly. From the outside barrier, FARSHAD was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. At the 450 Metres, FARSHAD was bumped and taken wider by BALLISTIC KING (A Domeyer) which shifted out around the heels of SHANGHAI MASTER to improve. A Domeyer was advised that in similar circumstances he must exercise due care and not place undue pressure on other runners. After passing the 200 Metres, YOO YOO KING was directed to the outside of BALLISTIC KING after being disappointed for running between SHANGHAI MASTER and BALLISTIC KING which shifted in under pressure. Whilst the Stewards formed the view that H W Lai (FARSHAD) did not correct his mount in a timely manner when he did straighten FARSHAD so as not to continue causing interference to YOO YOO KING, he was required to stop riding FARSHAD and because of this FARSHAD was not ridden out over the concluding stages. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident occurred over the final 100 Metres which cast sufficient doubt on whether FARSHAD (H W Lai) should be declared the 3rd placegetter. Subsequently K Teetan, the rider of YOO YOO KING, 4th placegetter, lodged a protest/objection against FARSHAD being declared the 3rd placegetter alleging interference to his mount over the final 100 Metres. After taking evidence from both jockeys and after viewing the videos, it was established that over the final 100 Metres FARSHAD shifted in a significant amount of ground, resulting in YOO YOO KING being hampered and taken inwards and not being able to be properly tested. It was further established that close to the finishing line YOO YOO KING was restrained away from the heels of BALLISTIC KING and was not able to be ridden out to the end of the race after being bumped by FARSHAD which continued to shift in in the run to the finishing line. Having in mind the neck margin between the two horses at the end of the race and the prolonged distance over which YOO YOO KING was hampered by FARSHAD, the Stewards were comfortably satisfied that had the interference which clearly took place not occurred YOO YOO KING would have finished in front of FARSHAD. Accordingly, the protest/objection was sustained and the placings amended to read No. 7, BALLISTIC KING, 1st; No. 10, NORDIC WARRIOR, 2nd; No. 1, YOO YOO KING, 3rd; and No. 11, FARSHAD, 4th. At a subsequent inquiry, H W Lai pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that over the final 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in a number of horses, resulting in YOO YOO KING being hampered when taken off its line and close to the finishing line being restrained away from the heels of BALLISTIC KING. H W Lai was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 20 October 2019 and to expire on Thursday, 24 October 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration that this was Jockey Lai’s first careless riding offence since resuming after a long injury lay-off. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that GRATWICK jumped well and took up a forward position as was intended. He said however that GRATWICK travelled only fairly during the event and then did not let down properly in the Home Straight and was disappointing. He said, in his view, GRATWICK did not appear to be comfortable on the Happy Valley circuit at its first time of asking and accordingly had recommended to connections that they campaign the horse at Sha Tin in the near future. A veterinary inspection of GRATWICK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. An inquiry into an incident on the turn after the 600 Metres involving MR PICASSO (M F Poon), GRATWICK (M Chadwick) and FIRST RESPONDER (N Callan) will be conducted before the first race at the Sha Tin racemeeting on Saturday, 12 October 2019. A veterinary inspection of FIRST RESPONDER and SHANGHAI MASTER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BALLISTIC KING and NORDIC WARRIOR were sent for sampling. <12/10/2019 Adjourned Inquiry – 9 October 2019 Happy Valley Racemeeting – Race 8 (85)>The Stewards today inquired into an incident after passing the 600 Metres where GRATWICK lost its position and MR PICASSO, which was racing to its inside, was hampered when momentarily tightened for room. Evidence was taken from M F Poon (MR PICASSO), M Chadwick (GRATWICK) and N Callan (FIRST RESPONDER). After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, it was established that GRATWICK, which in the evidence of M Chadwick was inclined to lay in at various stages of the race, shifted in slightly away from FIRST RESPONDER at the 600 Metres and made contact with MR PICASSO. It was further established that after racing tight with MR PICASSO for several strides, GRATWICK and MR PICASSO were briefly tightened due to FIRST RESPONDER shifting in slightly. N Callan was advised that due to the initial contact between GRATWICK and MR PICASSO, it was evident that he was not fully responsible for the incident, however, he was severely reprimanded for allowing his mount to shift in marginally after passing the 600 Metres, resulting in momentary crowding to MR PICASSO and GRATWICK.