16/12/2009  Happy Valley  Race 8

GREAT LUCK was slow to begin. Approaching the 800 Metres, VANQUISH DELIGHT shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of ARION OF CHIU TON. Apprentice K C Leung (NEW CHAPTER) said his mount hung in throughout the race. He said in the Straight he placed NEW CHAPTER under pressure and near the 150 Metres was obliged to steady away from the heels of FORTUNE WINNER when that horse shifted in. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of ARION OF CHIU TON, B Prebble stated that he rode his mount along in the early stages to obtain a forward position as instructed, however, ARION OF CHIU TON did not stretch out in the early stages as he thought it should. He said after obtaining a position outside SKY WALKER approaching the winning post on the first occasion, ARION OF CHIU TON then travelled only fairly and in the middle stages hung out. He said ARION OF CHIU TON came under pressure after passing the 600 Metres, however, did not respond to his riding and, in his opinion, its action did not feel comfortable. He said in the Straight ARION OF CHIU TON gave ground and was disappointing. Before being allowed to race again, ARION OF CHIU TON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FORTUNE WINNER, C K Tong stated that he had to make more use of the horse in the early stages to take up a forward position than was necessary at its most recent start when the horse was successful. He said he was obliged to ride FORTUNE WINNER along vigorously in the early stages to clear ARION OF CHIU TON, but after reaching the lead passing the 1300 Metres it then commenced to travel comfortably. He said after coming under pressure passing the 600 Metres when BILLION improved to his outside, FORTUNE WINNER then responded to his riding satisfactorily until about the 200 Metres where it commenced to give ground. He stated, in his opinion, the early work he was obliged to do on FORTUNE WINNER was the reason for the horse not being able to finish off tonight’s race. A veterinary inspection of GREAT LUCK, ARION OF CHIU TON and FORTUNE WINNER after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SKY WALKER after the race revealed that the horse had bled from both nostrils. FORTUNE WINNER, VANQUISH DELIGHT and REAL SPECIAL were sent for sampling. The Stewards will interview D Whyte, the rider of MAN IN THE MIRROR, regarding his riding out of that horse in the Straight prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting on Saturday 19 December 2009. Adjourned Inquiries – 16 December 2009 Happy Valley Racemeeting Race 8 (246) The Stewards today questioned D Whyte (MAN IN THE MIRROR) regarding his riding out of his horse in the Straight. D Whyte stated that in the early part of the Straight MAN IN THE MIRROR was unbalanced, had its head turned out and was wanting to lay in. He said for these reasons he rode his mount hands and heels until about the 150 Metres at which point he changed his whip from his left hand into his right hand as MAN IN THE MIRROR continued to lay in. He said when struck with the whip passing the 150 Metres, MAN IN THE MIRROR commenced to lay in worse and he was concerned that the horse would shift ground which may result in interference to SLEEP WELL which was racing to his inside and the outside of the heels of FLORAL NIRVANA. He said for this reason he put the whip away and continued to ride his mount out hands and heels to the end of the race. D Whyte was advised that whilst the Stewards accepted that MAN IN THE MIRROR was inclined to lay in which required him to take some corrective measures, his riding of the horse in the Straight had come under notice and that he must at all times ride his mounts out to the best of his ability given the circumstances.