12/05/2010  Happy Valley  Race 3

LINKED WIN and SONOFTHEWEST were slow to begin. At the start, FORTUNE SPIRIT was crowded for room between KIMBER FORTUNE and GLENEALY VIKING which shifted in. After this, FORTUNE SPIRIT was taken across behind runners. Near the 450 Metres, BRILLIANT ONE was checked away from the heels of SUNSHINE BOY. Both FORTUNE SPIRIT and KIMBER FORTUNE had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Passing the 250 Metres, WHITE DRAGON, which was giving ground, was crowded for room between BRILLIANT ONE and SUNSHINE BOY which, after shifting out and making contact with WHITE DRAGON, became unbalanced and shifted out further. For some distance prior to the 200 Metres, LINKED WIN was held up for clear running. Throughout the race, WHITE DRAGON travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding his riding of GLENEALY VIKING, M W Leung stated that he had been instructed by Trainer D J Hall to ride the horse positively in the early stages as it is a nervous type which has displayed a tendency to be reluctant to stretch out when following other horses in track work. He said it was also pointed out to him that horses ridden on the speed in the opening two races of the programme had been successful and therefore it was felt that GLENEALY VIKING would be best suited by being able to take up a position as close to the lead as possible. He said accordingly he rode GLENEALY VIKING along vigorously in the early stages. He said approaching the first turn he was racing outside the heels of FUN in a position wide on the track and he had WHITE DRAGON, which had drawn to his outside, being ridden to obtain a forward position. He said due to the instructions to be positive on GLENEALY VIKING, he did not consider attempting to obtain a position behind FUN, but rather he continued to stride forward in the hope that FUN would take him across into a position closer to the fence. He said on entering the Back Straight FUN was left racing four wide, therefore he elected to continue to ride GLENEALY VIKING along in the hope of obtaining a position closer to the fence rather than covering unnecessary ground. He said after racing forward of FUN near the 700 Metres, that horse was shifted in to a position on the fence passing the 600 Metres, therefore he allowed GLENEALY VIKING to maintain the position one off the fence to the outside of FUN. Mr Hall confirmed that he had instructed M W Leung to ride GLENEALY VIKING positively as it had been reported to him by those riders that had ridden the horse in track work, principally his assistant trainer, that GLENEALY VIKING was reluctant to stretch out when behind other horses. He said that GLENEALY VIKING, which was having its first start for his stable tonight, has not been in his stable all that long and he was unsure how much speed the horse possessed. He said it also appeared to him that the track was favouring horses ridden in forward positions and this fact, combined with the advice that he had received from the riders of the horse in track work, he believed that it would be best for GLENEALY VIKING to be ridden in a positive manner so that it would race more genuinely. After viewing the videos, M W Leung conceded that an opportunity existed for GLENEALY VIKING to obtain cover behind runners near the 900 Metres. Mr Hall stated that he also believed the option was available for M W Leung to position GLENEALY VIKING behind runners near the 900 Metres, however, he felt that from barrier 11, given the instructions he had provided Jockey Leung, that he was satisfied as to the reasons for GLENEALY VIKING to be continually ridden into a forward position. M W Leung was advised that his riding of GLENEALY VIKING, particularly his decision not to obtain cover behind runners when the opportunity existed near the 900 Metres, had come under notice and his riding of the horse for such a prolonged period meant that GLENEALY VIKING would not be able to finish off the race. He was also advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, his riding of GLENEALY VIKING was not up to the standard of a senior rider in Hong Kong and lacked the necessary level of judgement and initiative. M W Leung was further advised that at all times he must ride his horses in such a manner so as to allow them to be able to finish off the race where circumstances permit. A veterinary inspection of FUN after the race did not show any significant findings. NATURAL FLAME, BRILLIANT ONE and FORTUNE SPIRIT were sent for sampling.