18/03/2009  Happy Valley  Race 2

On jumping, TOUT VA BIEN was taken back from a wide barrier. When the gates opened, NOBLE DE LAGO lifted its front feet off the ground and was slow to begin. ASIAN CITRUS, which was leaning against the outside of its stall, began awkwardly and lost ground. At the 850 Metres, HAPPEE GIFT was steadied away from the heels of INVESTAR (D Whyte) which shifted in when not properly clear. ASIAN CITRUS, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of HAPPEE GIFT. D Whyte was reprimanded and told to exercise greater care. B Doyle (FLYING SPRINTER) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that after the 800 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of NOBLE DE LAGO, causing that horse to lose its rightful running and be checked. B Doyle was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Tuesday 14 April 2009 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). This suspension shall commence on Monday 6 April 2009 on which day B Doyle was due to resume race riding from a suspension incurred at the Happy Valley racemeeting last Wednesday. In addition, B Doyle was fined $15,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 1 further raceday. Approaching the turn at the 600 Metres, SEIZE THE DAY was left racing wide and without cover. Making the turn at the 600 Metres, WINNER was checked to avoid the heels of JUST RIGHT which when hanging out was steadied away from the heels of HAPPEE GIFT. Approaching and passing the 100 Metres, TOUT VA BIEN had some difficulty obtaining clear running. D Beadman (BONDI LAD) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that after the 50 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of HAPPEE GIFT, causing that horse to lose its rightful running and be checked. When HAPPEE GIFT was checked, it shifted out, bumped ASIAN CITRUS which as a result became unbalanced, shifted out and caused inconvenience on its outside to FLYING SPRINTER. D Beadman was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Tuesday 14 April 2009 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 5 April 2009. Approaching the winning post, TOUT VA BIEN was steadied away from the heels of ASIAN CITRUS. Because of this, TOUT VA BIEN was not ridden out right to the end of the race. W M Lai (JUST RIGHT) explained it was anticipated INVESTAR would show greater speed in the early stages and he was therefore instructed to go forward in the initial stages and then take a trailing position behind INVESTAR. He said he rode his mount along in accordance with those instructions, however, for the major part of the race JUST RIGHT hung out, then made the turn near the 600 Metres awkwardly and lost ground. He said after this JUST RIGHT did not stride out as he thought it should. JUST RIGHT was sent for an official veterinary inspection. After the race, JUST RIGHT was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said the horse was lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, JUST RIGHT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. NOBLE DE LAGO was sent for an official veterinary inspection. Also after the race, NOBLE DE LAGO was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. HAPPEE GIFT, INVESTAR and BONDI LAD were sent for sampling.