13/01/2010  Happy Valley  Race 7

At declaration time, K L Chui was declared as the rider of both SUPERIOR UNIT and EL ZONDA. It was established that K L Chui had a firm commitment to ride EL ZONDA. As such, the Stewards permitted M Chadwick to be substituted as the rider of SUPERIOR UNIT. For this declaration error, K L Chui was fined $2,000. GOLDEN BAUHINIA began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped YOUNG LABEL. CHEERFUL CITY and SUPERIOR UNIT bumped at the start. For some distance making the first turn, SUPERIOR UNIT was checked away from the heels of HAPPY REUNION and YOUNG LABEL and then making the first turn shifted out. Also making the first turn, LONGWAH RISING was taken wider by SHINING VICTORY which hung out. ENGINEERING WONDER, which was following, was hampered in consequence. After this, LONGWAH RISING raced wide outside SHINING VICTORY which continued to hang out. Apprentice T H So (GOLDEN BAUHINIA) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that at the 600 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of YOUNG LABEL, resulting in YOUNG LABEL having to be checked to avoid the heels of GOLDEN BAUHINIA and losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled. Apprentice So was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday 1 February 2010 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Wednesday 20 January 2010. Shortly after entering the Straight, SUPERIOR UNIT became unbalanced when bumped by YOUNG LABEL. Near the 150 Metres, YOUNG LABEL was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DIAMOND KNIGHT which shifted in slightly. In the Straight, HAPPY REUNION (Z Purton) hung in and proved difficult to ride, then over the concluding stages hung in badly, resulting in its rider being unable to fully test that horse. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of EASY, Apprentice K C Leung stated that after obtaining the position behind CHEERFUL CITY as instructed, EASY did not travel throughout the race as he thought it would and when placed under pressure in the Straight did not respond to his riding and was disappointing. When questioned, D Whyte stated that it had been intended for SHINING VICTORY to be racing in the first five if possible. He said his horse began only fairly and as a number of runners drawn to his inside were hard ridden to obtain forward positions, he elected to shift across behind runners in the early stages. He said that approaching the first turn SHINING VICTORY proved difficult to settle when being checked away from the heels of SUPERIOR UNIT. He said that after this SHINING VICTORY got its head on the side, hung out badly and then continued to hang out until after straightening. He said that on straightening he was able to balance SHINING VICTORY and rode it out hands and heels in the Straight. He said because of the manner in which SHINING VICTORY hung out in the middle stages, he did not want to pull the whip on the horse due to its waywardness. The racing manners of SHINING VICTORY were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SHINING VICTORY will have to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial around a bend. When questioned, A Gryder (YOUNG LABEL) stated that, in his opinion, the horse did not stretch out as he thought it should at any stage during the race and that the horse’s action did not feel comfortable. Before being allowed to race again, YOUNG LABEL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of SHINING VICTORY and YOUNG LABEL after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of LONGWAH RISING after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse’s trachea. UNION’S STAR and HAPPY REUNION were sent for sampling. <14/1/2010 Additional Veterinary Report > YOUNG LABEL, which performed poorly, was examined by the Head of Veterinary Regulation & International Liaison.  He said at that time there were no significant findings.  YOUNG LABEL was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer A Lee this morning.  He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its left front leg.  As previously advised, YOUNG LABEL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again.