26/04/2015  Shatin  Race 10

HAPPY METEOR was withdrawn on 23.4.15 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (respiratory infection) and was replaced by first Standby Declared Starter BRILLANTE. LINE SEEKER was withdrawn on 25.4.15 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inappetence) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter NOBLE ALPHA (B Prebble). Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY METEOR and LINE SEEKER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. AFFLUENCE OF RAIN began very awkwardly and lost ground. EYE ON YOU was crowded for room on jumping between TRAVEL RENYI which shifted out and BRILLANTE which shifted in. In this incident, EYE ON YOU and TRAVEL RENYI both became unbalanced. WONDERFUL COUPLES began awkwardly. THOR THE GREATEST lost its right front plate shortly after the start. Rounding the Home Turn, BLIZZARD and MULTIMAX raced tight due to BLIZZARD shifting out. Approaching the 400 Metres, TONYBOY was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of MULTIMAX. BLIZZARD had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight and passing the 300 Metres shifted out and bumped BRILLANTE which became unbalanced. Neat the 300 Metres, TONYBOY was crowded for room between BOSSIEE and MULTIMAX (D Whyte) which shifted out. D Whyte was advised to exercise more care. Passing the 100 Metres, MULTIMAX was crowded for room inside TRAVEL RENYI (O Doleuze) which shifted in. O Doleuze was advised to exercise more care. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident had occurred over the final 50 Metres which cast doubt on whether TRAVEL RENYI (O Doleuze) should be declared the winner of the race. Subsequently K Teetan, the rider of BLIZZARD, second placegetter, lodged a protest/objection against TRAVEL RENYI being declared the winner alleging interference to his mount over about the final 50 Metres. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that near the 50 Metres TRAVEL RENYI shifted in under pressure and bumped BLIZZARD and that over the concluding stages TRAVEL RENYI continued to shift in and bump BLIZZARD, causing that horse to become badly unbalanced. Having regard to the manner in which the horses were closing off the race and the nose margin between TRAVEL RENYI and BLIZZARD at the end of the race, the Stewards were comfortably satisfied that the interference had affected the finishing positions of the horses. Accordingly, the protest/objection was sustained and the placings were amended to read No. 14, BLIZZARD, 1st; No. 10, TRAVEL RENYI, 2nd; No. 2, TONYBOY, 3rd; and No. 5, MULTIMAX, 4th. Subsequently O Doleuze was severely reprimanded and advised that in similar circumstances he would be expected to stop riding and straighten his mounts and ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground and causing interference to other runners. For the majority of the race, FIONN’S TREASURE travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, J Moreira stated that BOSSIEE travelled keenly, however, was disappointing in its failure to respond to his riding in the Straight. TRAVEL RENYI and BLIZZARD were sent for sampling.