18/04/2010  Happy Valley  Race 1

EXTRA SPECIAL was slow to begin. WOODSTOCK began awkwardly and shortly after the start was crowded for room between THINK BIG and PERFECT ATHLETE, both of which shifted ground. Apprentice K W Leung (ASALI VICTORY) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 800 Metres he failed to make sufficient effort to prevent his mount, which was hanging in, from shifting ground which resulted in KING’S CHOICE being checked when crowded for room between ASALI VICTORY and ALIVE AND KICKING. In this incident, ALIVE AND KICKING became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters. As a consequence, TREASURABLE was steadied away from the heels of ALIVE AND KICKING and in doing so shifted in, resulting in GREAT UNITY, which was following, being checked to avoid the heels of TREASURABLE. Apprentice Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Sunday, 2 May 2010 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 next Sunday, 25 April 2010. Apprentice K W Leung was severely reprimanded for failing to make sufficient effort to prevent ASALI VICTORY, which continued to hang in, from shifting ground near the 700 Metres, resulting in ALIVE AND KICKING losing ground when crowded for room between ASALI VICTORY and THINK BIG. Passing the 700 Metres, PERFECT ATHLETE got its head on the side and lay out. Near the 200 Metres, PERFECT ATHLETE was shifted out around the heels of ASALI VICTORY which had its head on the side and hung in. Throughout the race, KING’S CHOICE travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of KING’S CHOICE after the race did not show any significant findings. CHAIN WIN, THINK BIG and TREASURABLE were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that WOODSTOCK had bled from both nostrils.