11/11/2009  Happy Valley  Race 5

PUBLIC FIGURE was slow to begin and then in the early stages raced greenly. WASABISABI began awkwardly and then shortly after the start became unbalanced when bumped by KINGSTON MARBLE which shifted in. As a result of this, WASABISABI shifted in and bumped JUMBO GOLD. Shortly after the start, BIG KAHUNA was crowded for room between KINGSTON MARBLE and LUCKY BOY which shifted in before being directed out by its rider, C K Tong. Passing the 1100 Metres, TURF WINNER and SEASON LINKZ bumped on a number of occasions. For some distance after entering the Back Straight, AMAZING FLYER proved difficult to settle. For some distance in the middle stages, WASABISABI proved difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions. Passing the 600 Metres, WASABISABI was checked away from the heels of TAI HANG’S PRIDE and shifted out. KINGSTON MARBLE, which was following WASABISABI, was severely checked to avoid the heels of that horse and AMAZING FLYER, which was following KINGSTON MARBLE, was also severely checked in consequence. In this incident, BIG KAHUNA was also inconvenienced. When questioned, Apprentice K C Leung (WASABISABI) stated that near the 500 Metres his mount propped, became badly unbalanced and lost a considerable amount of ground. This resulted in KINGSTON MARBLE and AMAZING FLYER again being severely checked. He added that after this WASABISABI, which was having its second start at Happy Valley, did not respond to his riding as he felt it should and was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to close off the race. He did say however that WASABISABI was quite badly unbalanced at the 500 Metres. Shortly after entering the Straight, TURF WINNER was bumped by WASABISABI, which after initially being brushed by STEEL NERVES, then shifted out further of its own accord. S K Sit (STEEL NERVES) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that he permitted his mount to shift out near the 150 Metres when insufficiently clear of WASABISABI, causing that horse to be checked and further that he continued to allow STEEL NERVES to shift out across the rightful running of TURF WINNER near the 100 Metres, causing that horse to be steadied. S K Sit was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday 26 November 2009 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting next Wednesday 18 November 2009. A veterinary inspection of WASABISABI after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of AMAZING FLYER after the race including an endoscopic examination revealed that the horse was a “roarer” which had previously been reported. JUMBO GOLD and STEEL NERVES were sent for sampling.