11/03/2009  Happy Valley  Race 5

FEEL-SO-GOOD and SUPERB GAINS were slow to begin. Passing the 1000 Metres, TREASURE RAIDERS was checked to avoid the heels of SUPER FIGHTER (B Doyle) which shifted in when not properly clear. B Doyle was severely reprimanded and told to exercise greater care. At the 450 Metres, ANIMATION was checked to avoid the heels of CHAIN WIN which commenced to give ground. Prior to straightening, ANIMATION was again checked when crowded for room between CHAIN WIN which shifted in when continuing to give ground and TREASURE RAIDERS which commenced to shift out. In the Straight, MASTER TOWER hung in and proved difficult to ride. Consideration was given to a protest/objection lodged by H W Lai, the rider of 4th placegetter, KING CREOLE, against SUPER FIGHTER (B Doyle) being declared the winner for alleged interference near the 100 Metres. The evidence disclosed that near the 100 Metres KING CREOLE was checked when crowded for room inside SUPER FIGHTER which shifted in when not clear. In deciding to overrule the protest/objection, the Stewards determined they could not be satisfied that had the interference which did take place not occurred KING CREOLE would have finished in front of SUPER FIGHTER. In arriving at this decision, the Stewards considered the margin of a length and three quarters between the horses at the end of the race together with the manner in which each horse closed the race off. As such, weighed-in was declared on the numbers as semaphored by the Judge. At a subsequent inquiry, B Doyle pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of KING CREOLE, causing that horse to lose its rightful running and be checked and SUPER PLUS to be unnecessarily hampered. B Doyle was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday 6 April 2009 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Nad Al Sheba racemeeting to be held in Dubai on Saturday 28 March 2009. When questioned, J Winks (CHAIN WIN), which was stepping up in distance tonight, said he had been instructed to use the horse’s natural early speed and have it travel in a forward position. He said CHAIN WIN began well, he travelled forward and was initially going to shift across to race outside SOU MA TAM in the lead. He said as he commenced to shift in, SUPER PLUS shifted out away from the rail on his inside and as a consequence CHAIN WIN was held three wide and without cover throughout the race. He said CHAIN WIN travelled greenly and shifted ground on several occasions. Mr P F Yiu, the trainer of CHAIN WIN, confirmed the riding instructions issued to J Winks and said from a wide barrier and stepping up in distance, he was concerned that should CHAIN WIN be ridden quietly, the horse would race very keenly and prove difficult to settle. He said because of this it was decided to allow CHAIN WIN to travel into a forward position in the hope that the horse would travel more kindly. He said CHAIN WIN is still an immature type which has natural speed, however, it travels greenly in its races. SUPER FIGHTER and TREASURE RAIDERS were sent for sampling.