01/12/2013  Shatin  Race 4

CAFE NERO was withdrawn on 29.11.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (substantial amount of mucus and blood in trachea on scoping after track work). Before being allowed to race again, CAFE NERO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SMART PLANET was checked and lost ground at the start when crowded for room between CLANCY AVENUE and JUN DAO which was taken in by TANGO FIRE which began awkwardly and shifted ground. GRIMMY shifted out at the start, resulting in HOLYANGELHOLY being crowded for room onto the hindquarters of BEAUTY JOURNEY which became unbalanced. Approaching and passing the 600 Metres, GRIMMY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DIVINE TEN. Over the final 400 Metres, HOLYANGELHOLY got its head on the side, hung out and proved difficult to ride. Apprentice C Y Lui (JUN DAO) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 300 Metres he failed to take sufficient measures to prevent his mount from shifting out, causing TANGO FIRE to be checked when crowded for room. Apprentice Lui was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 12 December 2013 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). This suspension is with immediate effect. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of ACCESS YEARS, T Angland stated that he had to ride his mount along in the early stages in order to stay in touch with DIVINE TEN which was drawn to the outside of ACCESS YEARS. He said ACCESS YEARS did not travel comfortably in the early stages and he subsequently had to make far more use of the horse than anticipated to cross ROMAN WIN to its outside. He added ACCESS YEARS came under heavy pressure after the 600 Metres to maintain its position and then despite ridden along did not respond to his riding and was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to close off the race as anticipated. T Angland stated that ACCESS YEARS had performed similarly at its first preparation when the horse was successful at its first race start but then raced somewhat disappointingly at its second up run as it did in today’s race. A veterinary inspection of ACCESS YEARS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, O Doleuze stated that in its recent races FABULOUS NOVEMBER had been over-racing, wanting to hang out and consequently had not been able to finish off its races as well as anticipated. He said it was therefore decided to bring the horse back in distance to the 1000 Metres of today’s race in order to establish whether it would be able to travel more comfortably at a faster pace. He said he had to ride FABULOUS NOVEMBER along in the early and middle stages in order to maintain a good position. He added FABULOUS NOVEMBER did not travel comfortably at any stage of the race and appeared to resent racing amongst runners in the middle stages. He said he continued to place FABULOUS NOVEMBER under pressure, however, the horse was disappointing in that it did not respond to his riding over the final 400 Metres and did not finish off the race as had been hoped. A veterinary inspection of FABULOUS NOVEMBER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of BRAVENESS, U Rispoli stated that throughout the race BRAVENESS lay in and would not race truly. He said BRAVENESS travelled only fairly and came under pressure to hold its position near the 400 Metres. He said at the 300 Metres BRAVENESS became unbalanced after being bumped by TANGO FIRE and after this, despite being ridden along, did not stretch out and weakened noticeably over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of BRAVENESS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of BRAVENESS was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BRAVENESS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. DIVINE TEN and GRIMMY were sent for sampling.