14/12/2014  Shatin  Race 10

HO IN ONE began very awkwardly, shifted in and bumped WHAT YOU DREAM which became unbalanced. A short distance after the start, HO IN ONE blundered when badly crowded for room between WHAT YOU DREAM and PACKING LLAREGYB which was taken in by GURUS DREAM which, after being bumped by LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT, shifted in despite the efforts of its rider, G Mosse. As the Stewards were satisfied that G Mosse had made a satisfactory effort to prevent GURUS DREAM from shifting in, no further action was taken. A short distance after this incident, PACKING LLAREGYB and WHAT YOU DREAM bumped. After the 1500 Metres, LOTUS BREEZE, when proving difficult to settle, shifted out. For some distance after the 1000 Metres, BEAUTY ONLY and ENTHUSIASM raced tight as K Teetan, the rider of ENTHUSIASM, attempted to shift in. K Teetan was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he does not place undue pressure on other runners in similar circumstances. Approaching the 900 Metres, FANTASTIC KAKA got its head on the side, shifted in away from the heels of ENTHUSIASM and bumped SANTA FE SUN which became unbalanced. Passing the 800 Metres, FANTASTIC KAKA was checked away from the heels of ENTHUSIASM. DEEP THINKER, which was following, was hampered in consequence. Near the 600 Metres, SANTA FE SUN got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of BEAUTY ONLY. Passing the 500 Metres, SANTA FE SUN was steadied when attempting to improve between PACKING LLAREGYB and BEAUTY ONLY where there was insufficient room. Z Purton (PACKING LLAREGYB) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that rounding the Home Turn he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of SANTA FE SUN, causing that horse to be checked after being crowded for room and losing its rightful running inside BEAUTY ONLY. Z Purton was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 19 January 2015 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). The Stewards ruled that this period of suspension is to be served cumulatively with the period of suspension Jockey Purton incurred in Race 9 and as such it will commence on Thursday, 8 January 2015. HO IN ONE had difficulty obtaining a clear run in the early part of the Straight and passing the 150 Metres was shifted to the inside of WHAT YOU DREAM to obtain clear running. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of BEAUTY ONLY, N Callan stated that he had been asked to ride the horse in a more forward position given that it had drawn barrier 1 and with an anticipated slow pace. He said as a number of today’s races had been won by horses which had raced away from the rail, he was asked to shift BEAUTY ONLY away from the rail and race in a position one horse wide if possible. He said in accordance with these instructions he rode BEAUTY ONLY along in the early stages to establish a forward position and after the 1200 Metres shifted it out so as not to be left racing on the rail. He said whilst BEAUTY ONLY raced tight inside ENTHUSIASM for some distance after the 1000 Metres, BEAUTY ONLY was not affected by this contact and travelled comfortably in the early and middle stages. He added in the early part of the Straight BEAUTY ONLY came under pressure and changed lead leg on a number of occasions. He said after the 200 Metres BEAUTY ONLY did not respond to his riding and near the 75 Metres shifted out and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FANTASTIC KAKA. He said whilst BEAUTY ONLY became unbalanced in this incident, the horse was beaten at that time and this did not have an effect on its final finishing position. He stated that having in mind the way in which BEAUTY ONLY raced today in comparison with its previous starts in Hong Kong, he believed that the horse did not appreciate being ridden in a more forward position and accordingly he recommended to connections that they ride it more conservatively in future. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY ONLY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of PACKING LLAREGYB, Z Purton stated that he was able to shift across from a wide barrier to race with cover on the rail in the early stages. He said PACKING LLAREGYB travelled comfortably and rounding the Home Turn he was able to shift away from the rail into clear running between LOTUS BREEZE and BEAUTY ONLY. He said however that PACKING LLAREGYB immediately came under pressure and weakened on its run over the final 200 Metres. A veterinary inspection of PACKING LLAREGYB immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse’s trachea. BEAUTY ONLY, WHAT YOU DREAM and GURUS DREAM were sent for sampling.