08/11/2020  Happy Valley  Race 4

TRAVEL DATUK was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, TRAVEL DATUK will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. The Stewards today interviewed Mr T P Yung, the trainer of GRATWICK, as to the circumstances regarding that horse being inadvertently treated with an anti-ulcer treatment on raceday morning. Also interviewed were Mr K W Chan, head lad, and Mr C S Lam, stables assistant. Mr Yung pleaded guilty to having breached Rule 50(2) in that as the person responsible for all matters pertaining to the running of his stable, he failed to take the necessary measures to prevent GRATWICK being inadvertently treated which necessitated the horse’s withdrawal from this race. Mr Yung was fined the sum of $30,000. Mr Chan and Mr Lam were advised that a report would be forwarded to Stables Department regarding their involvement in this matter. After being loaded into the barriers, HARMONY N BLESSED became fractious, reared and in doing so struck its head on the front gates, resulting in the front gates opening and HARMONY N BLESSED exiting the barrier stalls. In this incident, B Shinn was dislodged from HARMONY N BLESSED without incident. HARMONY N BLESSED was returned to the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion the horse was not suitable to race and accordingly it was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Following the withdrawal of HARMONY N BLESSED, those horses which had been loaded were removed from the barriers and the start of the race was delayed. Before being allowed to race again, HARMONY N BLESSED will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GOUTEN OF GARO shifted out at the start and bumped GARLIC HERO which began awkwardly. From the outside barriers, ROMANTIC TROVE and JAZZ STEED were shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. Shortly after the start, VIVA CHEF raced tight outside MOMENTUM GALAXY which shifted out after being brushed by WILD WEST WING. GOUTEN OF GARO lost its left front plate approaching the 900 Metres. Rounding the Home Turn, VIVA CHEF was shifted out away from the heels of WINNER’S HEART. Apprentice K H Chan (GARLIC HERO) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 150 Metres he failed to take sufficient measures to prevent his mount from shifting in, resulting in ROMANTIC TROVE being unnecessarily crowded for room and losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled. Apprentice Chan was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 22 November 2020 and to expire on Thursday, 26 November 2020 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). Over the concluding stages, VIVA CHEF lay in under pressure. When questioned, V Borges stated that he was asked to obtain a forward position on GOUTEN OF GARO, however, if another horse showed more early speed than his mount, then it was acceptable to obtain a trailing position. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode GOUTEN OF GARO positively in the early stages and was able to obtain a position inside the leader WILD WEST WING. He said as he felt that WILD WEST WING had travelled stronger than GOUTEN OF GARO, he elected to, rather than ride his mount along to maintain his position inside that horse, allow WILD WEST WING to cross GOUTEN OF GARO and obtain a trailing position near the 500 Metres. V Borges was advised that his explanation would be reported and whilst the tempo of today’s race was faster than its previous races in a lower grade, nonetheless he should have made more of an effort to maintain his position inside WILD WEST WING in the middle stages. A veterinary inspection of GOUTEN OF GARO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MOMENTUM GALAXY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. WILD WEST WING, VIVA CHEF and WINNER’S HEART were sent for sampling.