06/10/2021  Happy Valley  Race 7

On arrival at the Start, J Moreira expressed concern regarding the action of LITTLE THUNDER. An examination of LITTLE THUNDER by the Veterinary Officer found that horse to be lame in the right front leg and as such was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, LITTLE THUNDER was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, LITTLE THUNDER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SPICY GRILL shifted out on jumping and bumped the hindquarters of HERE COMES TED. After this, SPICY GRILL and HERE COMES TED, from wide barriers, were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. After the 800 Metres, ALL YOU KNOW got its head on the side and lay in away from GREAT HARVEST. XPONENTIAL travelled wide and without cover until near the 700 Metres. ALL YOU KNOW made the turn near the 550 Metres awkwardly when racing close to the heels of SIGHT HERO. MUDITA, which was following, was shifted out away from the heels of ALL YOU KNOW in consequence, resulting in HERE COMES TED being taken wider. SPICY GRILL was steadied away from the heels of FORTUNE WINNER after the 500 Metres. H Bentley (SIGHT HERO) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that after the 150 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in under pressure which resulted in SIGHT HERO shifting in and bumping MELBOURNE HALL, causing MELBOURNE HALL to become badly hampered when crowded for room outside the heels of XPONENTIAL approaching the 100 Metres. In the circumstances, H Bentley was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 27 October 2021 and to expire on Monday, 1 November 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In this incident, SPLIT OF A SECOND was shifted in away from the heels of MELBOURNE HALL in consequence. When questioned, A Badel stated that he was instructed to ride GREAT HARVEST positively from the outside barrier and attempt to obtain the lead if possible. He said he was instructed that if the pace of the race was particularly strong in the early stages, it was available to him to obtain cover on GREAT HARVEST as the horse had previously been successful when ridden off the speed. He said GREAT HARVEST began very well and he immediately rode his mount along in an endeavour to clear runners to his inside. He said passing the 1100 Metres there were a number of horses being ridden to obtain a forward position from inside barriers and he believed that he would have had to do too much work in an attempt to cross those horses and obtain the lead. He said he therefore elected passing the 1100 Metres to steady his mount and obtain cover. He said he had hoped that ALL YOU KNOW would shift in to race on the rail behind SPLIT OF A SECOND which would have provided GREAT HARVEST the opportunity to race one horse off the rail behind the eventual winner SIGHT HERO. He said however that when ALL YOU KNOW maintained its position one horse off the rail, this resulted in GREAT HARVEST being left racing wide and without cover near the 700 Metres. A veterinary inspection of SPICY GRILL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. FORTUNE CARRIER, SIGHT HERO and XPONENTIAL were sent for sampling.