12/12/2012  Happy Valley  Race 7

Despite being ridden along in the early stages, OTTIMO failed to muster speed and shortly after the start was taken across behind runners. After the 1200 Metres, INTELLECTUALSTRIDE was left racing wide and without cover. Near the 550 Metres, FLYING IN was momentarily crowded for room between INTELLECTUALSTRIDE and GALAXY PRANCER which shifted out away from the heels of FLYING UNICORN which itself shifted out at this time. Passing the 200 Metres, PEPPERMINT and MEGA CHAMPION bumped as PEPPERMINT shifted out to obtain clear running. After the 200 Metres, JOLLY FINE raced tight between FLYING UNICORN and JIMSON THE BEST. Near the 100 Metres, JIMSON THE BEST and JOLLY FINE were momentarily crowded for room between FLYING UNICORN and ENTHUSING which got its head on the side and shifted out. In this incident, JOLLY FINE and FLYING UNICORN bumped, resulting in FLYING UNICORN being taken out onto the hindquarters of GALAXY PRANCER. K C Leung (ENTHUSING) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that over the concluding stages he permitted his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of JOLLY FINE, causing that horse to be crowded for room inside FLYING UNICORN and lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled. K C Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Wednesday, 2 January 2013 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, 22 December 2012. When questioned regarding the improved performance of PEPPERMINT, Trainer C Fownes stated that he was unable to explain the horse’s two most recent runs which, in his opinion, had been disappointing. He said that PEPPERMINT had pulled up well after each of those races and that he had not altered the training of PEPPERMINT since those runs. He said having in mind PEPPERMINT’s two most recent performances, he did not anticipate that the horse would be a winning chance in tonight’s race and its win had surprised him. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that ENTHUSING had lost its right front plate. JOLLY FINE, PEPPERMINT and ENTHUSING were sent for sampling.