23/05/2010  Shatin  Race 6

Shortly after the start, HAPPY CHA CHA was crowded for room between GLOBAL RULER and SPLENDID CHAMPION which was taken out by AMITYSHIP. M Chadwick (SPLENDID CHAMPION) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 800 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of BRAVO WINNER, causing that horse to be checked and lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. M Chadwick was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 17 June 2010 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 6 June 2010. In addition, M Chadwick was fined $40,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating one further raceday. In this incident, BRAVO WINNER struck the heels of SPLENDID CHAMPION and blundered. Passing the 800 Metres, SPLENDID CHAMPION was steadied away from the heels of GLOBAL RULER. TOM’S EIGHTH was unable to obtain clear running until passing the 300 Metres. Throughout the race, GLOBAL RULER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Z Purton stated that at its most recent start it had been intended for NEW IDEA to be ridden behind the leaders, however, due to the pace of the race, NEW IDEA had raced further back than had been anticipated. He said today he was again instructed to have the horse racing behind the leaders if possible as it was felt that the speed of the race would only be fair. He said in the early stages NEW IDEA was caught racing wide and for this reason, passing the 1400 Metres, he rode the horse along to clear runners to his inside to avoid racing unnecessarily wide. When questioned, B Prebble (GLOBAL RULER) stated that he had not been under any specific instructions, but from a wide barrier, it was anticipated that GLOBAL RULER would be able to take up a forward position. He said throughout the early stages of the race he observed AMITYSHIP being aggressively ridden to take up a forward position, therefore he was content to follow that horse across. He said AMITYSHIP took some time to cross runners on its inside and go to the fence by which time NEW IDEA had improved its position one off the fence. He said he felt that he would have had to make some use of GLOBAL RULER to cross NEW IDEA as that horse was well established to the inside of GLOBAL RULER, therefore he elected to remain racing three wide. When questioned, D Whyte stated that he had been instructed to ride UNITED in a forward position. He said UNITED began awkwardly and made heavy contact with the outside of its barrier stall. He added this resulted in UNITED losing ground at the start. He said he allowed UNITED to travel into a forward position shortly after the start and the tempo at this stage of the race was good. He said approaching the 1200 Metres he considered racing forward of GLOBAL RULER which was racing immediately to his inside, however, as that horse was travelling well and AMITYSHIP, which was racing to the inside of GLOBAL RULER, was being hard ridden to obtain a forward position, he was of the belief that he would have had to make too much use of UNITED to cross GLOBAL RULER and therefore the horse would not have been able to finish off the race. He said for this reason he elected to attempt to obtain cover behind GLOBAL RULER, however, SPLENDID CHAMPION maintained its position to the inside of UNITED and for this reason UNITED was left racing wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of UNITED after the race did not show any significant findings. NEW IDEA, SPLENDID CHAMPION and BRAVO WINNER were sent for sampling.