26/10/2014  Shatin  Race 9

HELENE SPIRIT was withdrawn on 24.10.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen left fore tendon) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SAME WORLD (K C Leung). Before being allowed to race again, HELENE SPIRIT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Passing the 1400 Metres, RAINBOW CHIC got its head up on a number of occasions when proving difficult to settle. After the 1000 Metres, ENDOWING proved very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of GOLD-FUN. ENDOWING was then left racing wide and without cover. Z Purton (MILITARY ATTACK) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that over the concluding stage he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of BLAZING SPEED, causing that horse to be crowded for room inside GOLD-FUN and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. Z Purton was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 13 November 2014 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Victoria Racing Club’s race meeting to be conducted on Saturday, 8 November 2014. In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration Jockey Purton’s good race riding record during the most recent 2013/2014 and current racing seasons. When questioned, J Moreira stated that, in his opinion, DESIGNS ON ROME was not disappointing in the race. He said he had hoped to be able to shift to the outside of runners in the Straight, however, due to the circumstances of the race DESIGNS ON ROME was required to make its run towards the inside. He said after being somewhat flat-footed rounding the Home Turn, DESIGNS ON ROME, in his opinion, closed off the race quite well over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of DESIGNS ON ROME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of DIBAYANI immediately after the race revealed the horse had bled from both nostrils. DESIGNS ON ROME, MILITARY ATTACK and GOLD-FUN were sent for sampling.