04/12/2010  Shatin  Race 5

MOSSMAN BLITZ, JAI JAI HO and DRAGON CHOICE were slow to begin. LIONS’ FORTUNE began awkwardly. NOBLE VISION, which was slow to begin, was crowded for room at the start between SAMMY’S FALCON and SUPER GENTLEMAN. Near the 600 Metres, LIONS’ FORTUNE, which for some distance had been racing tight to the inside of SAMMY’S FALCON (Apprentice K C Leung), was steadied away from the heels of that horse which shifted in. Apprentice Leung was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure that he provides comfortable racing room to runners on his inside and that he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in future. Rounding the Home Turn, SUPER GENTLEMAN raced tight inside FIERCE which at this time was giving ground. In this incident, SUPER GENTLEMAN and FIERCE bumped. A short distance later, PREMIER HORSE was checked away from the heels of FIERCE which at this time was giving ground abruptly. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident occurred over the concluding stages which cast sufficient doubt on whether CROWN WITNESS should be declared the winner of the race. M Guyon, the rider of LIONS’ FORTUNE, 3rd placegetter, lodged a protest/objection against CROWN FITNESS (F Coetzee) being declared the winner alleging interference to his mount over the final 60 Metres of the race. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that LIONS’ FORTUNE, which was endeavouring to obtain a run to the inside of CROWN WITNESS, was crowded for room to the inside of that horse which shifted in under pressure near the 50 Metres. As the Stewards were not comfortably satisfied that LIONS’ FORTUNE had fully established running to the inside of CROWN WITNESS prior to that horse shifting ground and bearing in mind where the incident occurred in proximity to the winning post, they did not consider that LIONS’ FORTUNE would have finished in front of CROWN WITNESS had the incident not occurred. Therefore the protest/objection was overruled and weighed-in was declared on the numbers as semaphored by the Judge. At a subsequent inquiry, F Coetzee was advised to ensure that in similar circumstances he makes every effort to prevent his mounts from shifting ground. The performance of FIERCE, which throughout the race travelled wide and without cover and finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FIERCE 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, G Cheyne stated that from a wide barrier, he had been instructed to obtain a position in midfield with cover on RED RULER if possible. He said RED RULER began well, he noticed a number of horses to his inside not being ridden to obtain forward positions, therefore he elected to allow RED RULER to take up a more forward position than had been anticipated rather than risk racing wide. He said he was able to obtain this position without having to make too much use of RED RULER. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that LIONS’ FORTUNE had lost its right hind plate. CROWN WITNESS and YOUNG TURBO were sent for sampling.