29/11/2015  Shatin  Race 10

Z Purton pleaded guilty to a charge of improper conduct under Rule 155(5), the improper conduct being that after being dislodged from CELESTIAL SMILE when proceeding to the barriers prior to the running of this race, he struck CELESTIAL SMILE on four occasions with the whip in an inappropriate manner. For this offence, Z Purton was fined the sum of $15,000. RICKFIELD and PIKACHU were slow to begin. Shortly after the start, THEWIZARDOFOZ shifted in and bumped HAPPY BAO BEI. From an outside barrier, BERLINI was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 850 Metres, SAN NICASIO was steadied when awkwardly placed close to the heels of KINGSFIELD. Passing the 700 Metres, SPICY SURE commenced to over-race and shifted out abruptly when being checked away from the heels of THEWIZARDOFOZ, resulting in SPICY SURE making heavy contact with CIRCUIT LAND, causing that horse to become unbalanced. SPICY SURE continued to prove very difficult to settle and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of THEWIZARDOFOZ for a short distance after this. Passing the 500 Metres, BERLINI was shifted out abruptly away from the heels of RICKFIELD and CHOICE TREASURE, resulting in WAH MAY FRIEND being bumped and taken wider. Passing the 200 Metres, PIKACHU was steadied away from the heels of KINGSFIELD which, when giving ground, got its head on the side and shifted in away from THEWIZARDOFOZ. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of CIRCUIT LAND, N Callan stated that, from barrier 12, he was unable to obtain a position with cover and consequently was obliged to race three wide in a forward position. He said the tempo of the race steadied up in the middle stages, therefore he expected that CIRCUIT LAND, albeit that it was obliged to race wide and without cover, would be able to finish off the race. He said although CIRCUIT LAND became unbalanced passing the 700 Metres when bumped by SPICY SURE, he did not believe this had any material effect on the horse??s performance. He said after placing CIRCUIT LAND under pressure rounding the Home Turn, the horse commenced to weaken and was most disappointing in its failure to finish off the race. He added having regard to the fact that CIRCUIT LAND gave ground prior to straightening, he did not believe that the horse being required to race without cover could be used as an excuse for its performance. He said he had ridden CIRCUIT LAND on a number of occasions in the lead up to today??s race and this work, in his opinion, was good. A veterinary inspection of CIRCUIT LAND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of CIRCUIT LAND was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, CIRCUIT LAND will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY BAO BEI immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea and also found the horse to be displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY BAO BEI will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. THEWIZARDOFOZ, CELESTIAL SMILE and HERO LOOK were sent for sampling. <30/11/2015 Additional Veterinary Report>HAPPY BAO BEI, which performed poorly, was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said at that time the horse was found to be displaying an irregular heart rhythm and an endoscopic examination also showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse��s trachea. HAPPY BAO BEI was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer Y S Tsui this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its right front leg. As previously advised, HAPPY BAO BEI will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again.