27/03/2011  Shatin  Race 5

At declaration time, Apprentice K C Leung was declared as the rider of both SURROUNDED and BEAUTIFUL CHOICE. It was established that Apprentice Leung had a firm commitment to ride SURROUNDED. As such, the Stewards permitted P Strydom to be substituted as the rider of BEAUTIFUL CHOICE. For this declaration error, Apprentice Leung was fined $2,000. GOLD RUSH was difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, GOLD RUSH will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. As the start was effected, ELECTRONIC MASTER, which was leaning against the outside of its stall, reared up and lost a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, ELECTRONIC MASTER will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. JADE PINS was slow to begin and then shortly after the start was crowded for room between GOLD RUSH and SURROUNDED, both of which shifted ground. Shortly after the start, SURROUNDED was bumped by BEAUTIFUL CHOICE which shifted in. H W Lai (SUPER BOBO) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 1400 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of ROCKET POWER, causing that horse to be checked and lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. H W Lai was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Tuesday, 26 April 2011 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). This suspension shall commence on Thursday, 14 April 2011 on which day he was due to resume race riding from a suspension incurred at the Sha Tin racemeeting last Sunday. In addition, H W Lai was fined $35,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating one further raceday. After the 1200 Metres, SUPER BOBO was left racing wide and without cover. For some distance near the 900 Metres, CLASSA raced in restricted room inside SPEED RACER which got its head on the side and shifted in. When questioned, P Strydom stated that he had been instructed, from a wide draw, to take BEAUTIFUL CHOICE across behind runners early in the race and if possible obtain cover and have the horse settled. He said at its most recent start when ridden in a forward position, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE finished off the race only one-paced and it was hoped that if the horse were to settle in today’s race, it would be able to close off the race better than it did at its most recent start. He said at the start BEAUTIFUL CHOICE began very well and in the initial stages of the race got its head up when being steadied to obtain a position behind initially SURROUNDED and then ROCKET POWER. He said when ROCKET POWER was checked by its rider after the 1400 Metres, he was not able to shift BEAUTIFUL CHOICE across behind that runner and consequently was left travelling wide. He said rather than continue to restrain BEAUTIFUL CHOICE back further, he allowed the horse to maintain its position to the outside of ROCKET POWER. He said this resulted in BEAUTIFUL CHOICE being left wide and without cover until after the 1000 Metres when it was able to shift in behind SUPER BOBO. He added making the turn near the 800 Metres BEAUTIFUL CHOICE was bumped by ROCKET POWER on a number of occasions, the horse then commenced to over-race and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUPER BOB. He said because of the manner in which BEAUTIFUL CHOICE was racing, after the 700 Metres he was obliged to shift away from the heels of SUPER BOBO and again raced without cover for a short distance. He said rounding the Home Turn BEAUTIFUL CHOICE, due to the ground that it covered and the manner in which it raced, commenced to give ground and he continued to push the horse along in the Straight, however, it was a beaten horse at this time. He added that in retrospect it would have been better allowing BEAUTIFUL CHOICE to stride forward after it began well, however, he was mindful of the instructions he had been given. P Strydom was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, he must ensure that he rides his mounts in such a fashion so as to give them every opportunity to close off their races and to avoid covering unnecessary ground. He was also reminded of his obligation to fully test his mounts in the Home Straight where circumstances permit. A veterinary inspection of SURROUNDED after the race did not show any significant findings. TOM’S EIGHTH and SUPER BOBO were sent for sampling.