21/04/2012  Shatin  Race 10

On arrival at the barriers, the tongue tie fitted to KEEN WONGCHOY was replaced. NEW DEERFIELD began awkwardly. From a wide barrier, KEEN WONGCHOY was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. G-ONE WINNING was slow to begin. In the early stages, GROOVY, which was shifted across behind runners shortly after the start, proved very difficult to settle and over-raced for a considerable distance and near the 1100 Metres shifted out and away from the heels of FREDERICK ENGELS when continuing to prove difficult to settle. After this, GROOVY travelled wide and without cover. W M Lai (NEW DEERFIELD) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 900 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of HELENE FUN STAR, causing that horse to be hampered and taken across the rightful running of FAMILISTS which as a result was checked and lost the running to which it was rightfully entitled after being crowded on the hindquarters of KEEN WONGCHOY. W M Lai was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 7 May 2012 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Wednesday, 25 April 2012. In addition, W M Lai was fined $15,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating one further raceday. Passing the 900 Metres, KEEN WONGCHOY got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of G-ONE WINNING. After the 400 Metres, REAL SUPREME got its head on the side and hung in and in doing so crowded WAH MAY STAR, causing both horses to become unbalanced. Near the 300 Metres, CHATER WAY was steadied away from the heels of CHINA POWER which was giving ground. After the 300 Metres, FREDERICK ENGELS got its head on the side and hung out under pressure. Close to the finishing line, CHATER WAY and FAMILISTS raced tight. Throughout the race, DRAGON FIGHTER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of NOBLE ALPHA, B Prebble stated that it had been decided to ride the horse quietly from barrier 12 as, in his opinion, it had raced best both overseas and in Hong Kong when ridden from off the speed. He said after shifting across behind runners in the early stages, NOBLE ALPHA travelled only fairly in the early and middle stages. He said at the entrance to the Straight he shifted NOBLE ALPHA out into clear running, however, the horse got its head on the side and hung out. He said despite being ridden along, NOBLE ALPHA did not respond to his riding and was disappointing. He added that he had ridden NOBLE ALPHA in its track work in the lead up to today’s race and, in his opinion, this work was very good. He said today that NOBLE ALPHA raced “flat”. A veterinary inspection of NOBLE ALPHA and FREDERICK ENGELS after the race did not show any significant findings. WAH MAY STAR and REAL SUPREME were sent for sampling.