16/12/2012  Shatin  Race 11

GREEN MANNER was slow to begin. ALPHA GRAND began awkwardly. When being steadied to be taken across behind runners from the outside barrier, KING’S FOLKS got its head up on a number of occasions. Passing the 400 Metres, ALPHA GRAND was shifted out from the heels of FLYING CHAPARRAL to obtain clear running. DEEP THINKER was unable to obtain clear running until after the 300 Metres. For the majority of the race, CHEERS JOY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, G Mossé stated that HAPPY CHAMPION came under heavy pressure to hold its position prior to the 600 Metres. He said as HAPPY CHAMPION was not travelling well and was hanging out, he was not able to prevent GREEN MANNER from shifting out to his inside passing the 500 Metres. He said he continued to place HAPPY CHAMPION under heavy pressure, however, the horse continued to hang out badly and proved very difficult to ride. He added that he persisted riding HAPPY CHAMPION along in the early part of the Straight and used the whip on the horse in the left hand in an attempt to have it race more tractably. He said despite this, HAPPY CHAMPION continued to hang out and for this reason he did not ride it out vigorously in the Straight as he was concerned that it would continue to hang out. G Mossé was advised that, wherever possible, he must continue to ride his mounts out right to the end of the race in accordance with the requirement under the Rules of Racing. The performance of HAPPY CHAMPION was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY CHAMPION must barrier trial competitively around a bend. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-on as they were of the prima facie view that an incident had occurred inside the final 100 Metres which cast sufficient doubt on whether BENEFACTOR (T H So) should be declared the winner of the race. Subsequently T Angland, the rider of DEEP THINKER, third placegetter, also lodged a protest/objection against BENEFACTOR being declared the winner alleging interference to his mount over the final 100 Metres. After taking evidence from all the parties concerned and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that near the 100 Metres when finishing off the race strongly, DEEP THINKER was shifted to the inside of the heels of BENEFACTOR. It was further established that shortly after this DEEP THINKER established running to the inside of BENEFACTOR and that BENEFACTOR then shifted in for the remainder of the race, resulting in DEEP THINKER being badly crowded for room and being checked close to the finishing line. Having regard to the manner in which DEEP THINKER was closing off the race and the proximity of the incident to the winning post, the Stewards were comfortably satisfied that had DEEP THINKER been afforded clear running to the inside of BENEFACTOR that that horse would have finished in front of BENEFACTOR at the end of the race. Accordingly, the Stewards sustained the protest/objection and amended the placings to read No. 5, GREEN MANNER, 1st; No. 2, DEEP THINKER, 2nd; No. 13, BENEFACTOR, 3rd; and No. 9, SPEEDYGONZALEZ, 4th. At a subsequent inquiry, T H So pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding and was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Saturday, 29 December 2012 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Wednesday, 19 December 2012. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HONEY KING PRAWN, T Clark explained that he had to make some use of the horse in the early stages to take up a forward position and although it had cover, it raced three wide. He said after the 800 Metres HONEY KING PRAWN travelled only fairly and in the Straight gave ground. He added that he was of the opinion that the horse did not stretch out fully on today’s track surface. A veterinary inspection of HONEY KING PRAWN after the race did not show any significant findings. The Stewards will interview C Y Ho, the rider of LUCKY GAINS regarding his riding of the horse, particularly in the middle stages at the Happy Valley racemeeting to be conducted on Wednesday, 19 December 2012. After the race, the Veterinary Surgeon reported that BENEFACTOR had bled from the right nostril and an endoscopic examination confirmed the horse to be a bleeder. GREEN MANNER and DEEP THINKER were sent for sampling.