01/01/2010  Shatin  Race 4

HAPPY TUMBLER was withdrawn on 31.12.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (sore right fore fetlock) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FLYING COLOURS (Apprentice K W Leung). Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY TUMBLER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On arrival at the Start, MR VIGOROUS, which kicked a rail on entering the track, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who reported the horse was suitable to race. TURF MAGIC was slow to begin. Making the first turn, TURF MAGIC became unbalanced when reluctant to maintain its position inside DANESOUTH. SMART CURRENCY got its head on the side and hung out rounding the Home Turn. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident had occurred in the Straight which cast sufficient doubt on whether ROYAL DOCTOR (J Victoire) should be declared as the 2nd placegetter of the race. D Whyte, the rider of HUSSLER, 4th placegetter, also lodged a protest/objection against ROYAL DOCTOR being declared the 2nd placegetter alleging interference near the 100 Metres. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the official videos, the Stewards found that at approximately the 50 Metres HUSSLER was severely checked when crowded for room between FLYING COLOURS and ROYAL DOCTOR which shifted out. Having considered the relative positions of the horses leading up to the incident and the proximity of where the incident occurred in relation to the finish of the race, the Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that had the interference which clearly took place not occurred that HUSSLER would have finished in front of ROYAL DOCTOR, therefore the protest/objection was overruled. Accordingly, the Judge’s placings as semaphored were confirmed. At a subsequent inquiry, J Victoire pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that he permitted his mount to shift out near the 60 Metres when not clear of HUSSLER, resulting in HUSSLER being severely checked. J Victoire was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Sunday 17 January 2010 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). This suspension shall commence on Monday 11 January 2010 on which day J Victoire was due to resume race riding from a suspension incurred at the Happy Valley racemeeting on Wednesday, 16 December 2009. In addition, J Victoire was fined $20,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating one further raceday. Throughout the race, CARISSIMA travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, O Doleuze (MASTER TOUCH) stated that he had been instructed from the outside barrier to shift his mount across behind runners in the early stages and obtain cover. He said that MASTER TOUCH was very unsettled prior to the race and proved difficult to proceed to the barrier. He said after shifting MASTER TOUCH onto the rail shortly after the start, he was following TURF MAGIC and near the 850 Metres steadied away from that horse’s heels when it was reluctant to hold its position. He said after that he continued to race behind TURF MAGIC and inside JEN TRUMPS. He said passing the 600 Metres TURF MAGIC shifted out and he improved his position to be following DANESOUTH. He said he elected to continue racing to the inside as he had a number of horses in advance of MASTER TOUCH and he would have had to shift out a considerable amount of ground to the outside of horses. He said shortly after entering the Straight he steadied away from the heels of DANESOUTH and commenced to improve along the inside rail where MASTER TOUCH responded well to his riding. He said although he used the whip sparingly on the horse, MASTER TOUCH was continuing to give of its best and, having in mind the manner in which MASTER TOUCH behaved prior to the race, he was reluctant to use the whip vigorously on the horse. He said MASTER TOUCH finished off the race strongly when ridden out mostly hands and heels in the Straight. FLYING COLOURS and ROYAL DOCTOR were sent for sampling.