25/11/2009  Happy Valley  Race 2

TRAVEL GUIDE bounded in the air at the start and then a short distance later was crowded for room between HIGH LUCK and SPARKLING which got its head on the side and shifted out. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, LIVERBIRD and CHEEKY LAD raced tight inside CENTURY MOLLY which shifted in away from LUCKY MONEY. When caught wide in the early stages, HIGH LUCK was steadied and taken back to a position with cover approaching the 1200 Metres. Near the 850 Metres, CENTURY MOLLY (Z Purton), which was racing fiercely and proving difficult to settle, shifted out to avoid the heels of LUCKY MONEY and in doing so made heavy contact with TRAVEL GUIDE which in turn shifted out and bumped LEO’S PRIDE. As the Stewards were of the view that no rider error was involved in this incident, no further action was taken. When questioned, Z Purton stated that as he had been instructed to obtain cover on CENTURY MOLLY due to the horse being successful at its most recent start when ridden in this fashion, he was reluctant to allow CENTURY MOLLY to improve to be racing outside the leader LUCKY MONEY after this incident. He said for this reason he elected to have the horse shift back in to a position to be racing behind LUCKY MONEY so as to obtain cover for as long as possible. Apprentice K C Leung (CHEEKY LAD) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of ROYAL PORTRAIT, causing that horse to be checked and lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled and LEO’S PRIDE, which was racing to the outside of ROYAL PORTRAIT, to be hampered. Apprentice Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday 10 December 2009 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting next Sunday 29 November 2009. Near the 100 Metres, CHEEKY LAD was steadied away from the heels of TRAVEL GUIDE which was taken out slightly by HAPPY CHA CHA. In the Straight, CENTURY MOLLY got its head on the side, hung in and proved difficult to ride. Throughout the race, LEO’S PRIDE travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Apprentice K C Leung stated that shortly after entering the Home Straight, TRAVEL GUIDE shifted in in front of him, therefore he committed CHEEKY LAD to obtain running to the outside of that horse. He said although clear running became available to the inside of TRAVEL GUIDE a short distance later, he was of the belief that he was already committed to shift to the outside of that horse. A veterinary inspection of TRAVEL GUIDE after the race did not show any significant findings. CENTURY MOLLY, LUCKY MONEY and LIVERBIRD were sent for sampling.