14/03/2012  Happy Valley  Race 3

Trainer C Fownes was fined a sum of $2,000 for declaring Apprentice K C Ng as the rider of ALWAYS WELL when that apprentice jockey was not properly engaged. CLASSIC AWARDS stood flat-footed at the start and lost a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, CLASSIC AWARDS will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. INTELLECTUALSTRIDE was slow to begin and shortly after the start was taken across behind runners. Approaching the 1000 Metres, EL GRANDE became unbalanced when being steadied away from the heels of SUPER BRAND which itself was being steadied to obtain cover. Near the 400 Metres, EL GRANDE was checked when momentarily crowded for room inside GENUINE LEADER which, after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of ROCKET PROUD, shifted in marginally. No action was taken. Z Purton (SURFER BOY) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that over the concluding stages he failed to take sufficient measures to prevent that horse from shifting out, resulting in ROCKET PROUD being checked when crowded for room and CHARMGOLD and ALWAYS WELL also being crowded for room. Z Purton was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 16 April 2012 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 1 April 2012. When questioned regarding his riding of GOLD WINNER, principally after the 800 Metres, H W Lai stated that he had been instructed to attempt to cross SUPERIOR WARRIOR to his inside and lead the race if possible, however, if not, he should obtain a position to that horse’s outside. He said he rode GOLD WINNER along vigorously in the early stages, however, it did not show sufficient speed to cross SUPERIOR WARRIOR and for this reason he positioned GOLD WINNER to the outside of that horse. He said making the turn near the 1000 Metres SURFER BOY improved its position to be racing outside GOLD WINNER and at this time GOLD WINNER immediately got its head on the side and commenced to hang in badly. He said approaching the 800 Metres he allowed GOLD WINNER to stride forward, however, he was reluctant to ride his mount along at this time to cross SUPERIOR WARRIOR due to the manner in which GOLD WINNER was hanging in. He added that he felt that had he commenced to ride GOLD WINNER along, the horse would have shifted ground abruptly which would have resulted in interference being caused to SUPERIOR WARRIOR to his inside. He said near the 600 Metres whilst he had improved to be forward of SUPERIOR WARRIOR, he did not feel that he was sufficiently clear to cross that horse and for this reason he continued to race one horse off the fence. H W Lai was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he should have made more of an effort after the 700 Metres to cross SUPERIOR WARRIOR, particularly given that that horse was not being ridden along to maintain its position at that time of the race. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that SUPER BRAND had bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of SUPERIOR WARRIOR after the race revealed that the horse had bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of CLASSIC AWARDS after the race did not show any significant findings. GENUINE LEADER and SURFER BOY were sent for sampling. <15/3/2012 Additional Veterinary Report> SUPERIOR WARRIOR, which performed poorly, was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said at that time the horse was found to have bled from both nostrils. SUPERIOR WARRIOR was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer P F Yiu this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in the right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, SUPERIOR WARRIOR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.