03/11/2010  Shatin  Race 4

TOP HONOR was withdrawn on 2.11.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore fetlock) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter HARRY HARRY (Apprentice K C Leung). Before being allowed to race again, TOP HONOR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LUCKY ARMY was slow to begin. WISE LOVER, WIN-A-LOT and AMAZING CHOICE were all crowded for room at the start between JUST CHILL which shifted in after beginning awkwardly and HEALTHY BLUEBERRY which shifted out. Approaching the 1200 Metres, LUCKY ARMY got its head in the air and proved difficult to settle when being steadied away from the heels of MACHO EXPRESSO. Apprentice T H So (HEALTHY BLUEBERRY) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that at the 1200 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of AGRICULTURE EXPERT, causing that horse to be checked and lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. Apprentice So was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 15 November 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 on Saturday, 6 November 2010. After the 1200 Metres, AGRICULTURE EXPERT was left racing wide and without cover. Making the turn near the 750 Metres, WIN-A-LOT became unbalanced when being steadied away from the heels of LUCKY ARMY which itself was awkwardly placed close to the heels of MACHO EXPRESSO. In this incident, LUCKY ARMY shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of HARRY HARRY which became unbalanced. Approaching the 400 Metres, LUCKY ARMY, which was attempting to obtain a tight run to the inside of HARRY HARRY, was checked when HARRY HARRY, which after being taken in slightly by WIN-A-LOT, shifted in of its own accord. As the Stewards believed that there was no rider error involved in this incident, no further action was taken. ENERGETIC BOY, which was following LUCKY ARMY, was checked in consequence. In the Straight, PEGASUS SUPREME (Z Purton) shifted out under pressure. Z Purton dropped his whip passing the 250 Metres. Also in the Straight, BE GRATEFUL got its head on the side and hung out. The performance of HARRY HARRY, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HARRY HARRY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, J Lloyd (YOUNG HERO) stated that approaching the 600 Metres he was travelling behind AGRICULTURE EXPERT. He said shortly after the 600 Metres that horse commenced to give ground and he felt that it may shift out which would allow him the opportunity to save ground by improving to the inside of that horse. He said however that at this time WIN-A-LOT shifted out away from the heels of HARRY HARRY to be racing directly to the inside of AGRICULTURE EXPERT which resulted in YOUNG HERO having to be checked away from the heels of AGRICULTURE EXPERT. J Lloyd was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, YOUNG HERO’s interests would have been better served by being shifted to the outside of AGRICULTURE EXPERT to improve rather than attempting to obtain running to the inside of that horse where a run was less likely to eventuate. MACHO EXPRESSO and WIN-A-LOT were sent for sampling. <4/11/2010Additional Veterinary Report> The Clinical Veterinary Surgeon reported that WISE LOVER was lame in the left front leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, WISE LOVER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.