03/04/2011  Shatin  Race 2

At declaration time, B Prebble was declared as the rider of both COOL CAT and METRO RIDER. It was established that B Prebble had a firm commitment to ride METRO RIDER. As such, the Stewards permitted Apprentice C Y Ho to be substituted as the rider of COOL CAT. For this declaration error, Trainer D J Hall was fined $2,000. From a wide draw, MUTUAL GAIN was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. When left racing wide and without cover after the 1100 Metres, GOOD JOB proved very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions. GOOD JOB then continued to prove difficult to settle when obliged to race wide and without cover for the remainder of the race. Also throughout the race, HEY HA MASTER travelled wide and without cover. FANTASTIC TIME had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. At the 200 Metres, TREASURE GLITTER was disappointed for running between HEY HA MASTER and JUST GOOD, both of which shifted ground. SUCCESSFUL ERA had difficulty obtaining clear running until after the 200 Metres. J Lloyd (GOOD JOB) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 50 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of SUCCESSFUL ERA, resulting in that horse losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled. J Lloyd was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 21 April 2011 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 Wednesday, 13 April 2011. When questioned, B Prebble said that it had been anticipated that METRO RIDER would obtain a forward position. He said METRO RIDER began awkwardly and when the pace of the race was fast in the early stages, he elected to shift METRO RIDER across behind runners rather than urge the horse into a forward position and have it over-racing. When questioned, H W Lai (GORGEOUS LIFE) stated that he had been instructed to lead. He said GORGEOUS LIFE began only fairly and he had to ride the horse along vigorously to lead the race as instructed. He said when being ridden along to obtain the lead, GORGEOUS LIFE commenced to hang out. He said near the 1100 Metres he was able to clear CARE FREE MIDAS and shift across to the fence. He said GORGEOUS LIFE continued to hang out and for this reason he was not able to steady the horse as much as he would have wished having in mind that, in his opinion, the tempo of the race in the early and middle stages was quite fast. A veterinary inspection of FANTASTIC TIME after the race did not show any significant findings. GRANDFIELD and HEY HA MASTER were sent for sampling.