09/05/2012  Happy Valley  Race 2

SUPREME TAIJI was slow to begin and shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of BET ON ME. Shortly after the start, BET ON ME was steadied after becoming unbalanced when crowded for room between SUPER BROTHER and CHARMGOLD which shifted out. After this, BET ON ME was taken across behind runners. From the outside barrier, ALWAYS WELL was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, CHARMGOLD failed to muster speed and making the first turn when wide was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. MY WHISKY travelled wide and without cover until near the 600 Metres at which time MY WHISKY shifted in, resulting in BLESSING WIN being steadied away from the heels of that horse. After the 600 Metres, BET ON ME got its head on the side and lay in, resulting in MEGA POSH being crowded for room. Shortly after entering the Straight, K C Leung (BLESSING WIN) dropped his whip. For some distance after entering the Straight, BET ON ME was held up for clear running when racing between MEGA POSH and BLESSING WIN and near the 300 Metres was shifted to the outside of BLESSING WIN in an attempt to obtain clear running. Near the 200 Metres, HIGH RETURN was held up for clear running behind SUPER BROTHER and inside SUNSHINE KID. For the remainder of the race, HIGH RETURN was crowded for room when attempting to obtain a tight run between SUNSHINE KID and SUPER BROTHER. For some distance after the 150 Metres, BET ON ME raced in restricted room between BLESSING WIN and NOBODY BUT YOU. W Pike (SUPREME TAIJI) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out, resulting in KIDCONI having to be checked and further he permitted his mount to continue to shift out, resulting in MY WHISKY being taken out across the rightful running of BET ON ME which contributed to that horse being severely checked when crowded for room inside NOBODY BUT YOU. W Pike was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 4 June 2012 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 to be conducted on Sunday, 27 May 2012. Close to the finishing line, NOBODY BUT YOU was crowded for room inside ALWAYS WELL which shifted in. C K Tong, the rider of ALWAYS WELL, stopped riding and corrected his mount to relieve the tightening to NOBODY BUT YOU. This resulted in ALWAYS WELL not being ridden out to the end of the race as it normally would be. O Doleuze (KIDCONI) was fined a sum of $2,000 for raising his whip arm above shoulder height. A veterinary inspection of BLESSING WIN after the race did not show any significant findings. HIGH RETURN, SUPER BROTHER and SUNSHINE KID were sent for sampling.