31/03/2016  Happy Valley  Race 5

FAIRY EAGLE was withdrawn on 30.3.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (sore right fore fetlock) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SPEEDY WALLY (K Teetan). Before being allowed to race again, FAIRY EAGLE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being placed in the barriers, STRATUM POWER became fractious and reared on a number of occasions. Then as the start was effected, STRATUM POWER again reared, resulting in the horse losing a significant amount of ground and subsequently finishing tailed out. The performance of STRATUM POWER was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, STRATUM POWER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. REAL GENEROUS was very slow to begin. SPEEDY WALLY was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Passing the 1400 Metres, SPEEDY WALLY was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of CALIFORNIA CHERISH and shifted in, resulting in TELEPHATIA being momentarily crowded for room. Then near the 1300 Metres, SPEEDY WALLY, which continued to be awkwardly placed close to the heels of CALIFORNIA CHERISH, shifted out abruptly away from the heels of that horse. After the 1200 Metres, TELEPHATIA got its head up on a number of occasions when proving difficult to settle. Passing the 1000 Metres, ROBUST MOMENTUM got its head up when racing close to the heels of SUPER SPRINTER. Passing the 700 Metres, REAL GENEROUS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SPEEDY WALLY. Passing the 500 Metres, TELEPHATIA raced close to the heels of CALIFORNIA CHERISH. K Teetan (SPEEDY WALLY) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 50 Metres he failed to take sufficient measures to prevent his mount from shifting in, resulting in SPEEDY WALLY shifting in across the rightful running of REAL GENEROUS which was checked. K Teetan was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Sunday, 17 April 2016 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 10 April 2016. In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration Jockey Teetan’s good race riding record during the most recent 2014/2015 and current racing seasons. Over the concluding stages, TELEPHATIA raced tight inside TEN SPEED which shifted in under pressure. In the Straight, SPEEDY WALLY raced with its head on the side and hung in under pressure. When questioned, J Moreira stated that he had been instructed to ride OSCAR MIRACLE positively in the early stages and take up a forward position if possible. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode OSCAR MIRACLE vigorously out of the barriers, however, ROBUST MOMENTUM and SUPER SPRINTER showed superior speed to OSCAR MIRACLE. He said as OSCAR MIRACLE was not showing as much early speed as anticipated, he elected, passing the winning post on the first occasion, to obtain a trailing position rather than continuing to ride his mount along. He added shortly after shifting in to race on the rail behind ROBUST MOMENTUM, the pace of the race slackened appreciably, however, by this time he had already committed OSCAR MIRACLE to race behind ROBUST MOMENTUM. When questioned, Y T Cheng (TEN SPEED) stated that, from barrier 10, he had been asked to shift the horse across behind runners and ride the horse quietly and save ground if possible. He said in accordance with his instructions he shifted TEN SPEED across initially behind SPEEDY WALLY and then was able to obtain a position racing on the rail following TELEPHATIA after passing the winning post on the first occasion. He said in the early and middle stages TEN SPEED remained racing behind TELEPHATIA and near the 900 Metres became unbalanced when having to be checked away from the heels of that horse. He said he continued to race behind TELEPHATIA and inside REAL GENEROUS until after making the turn passing the 600 Metres. He said near the 550 Metres he rode his mount along to ensure it maintained its position behind TELEPHATIA and approaching the 400 Metres attempted to shift TEN SPEED from behind TELEPHATIA, however, he then elected to remain racing behind that horse until entering the Straight at which time he immediately shifted TEN SPEED to the outside of TELEPHATIA. He added he then commenced to ride his mount along shortly after entering the Straight and placed it under pressure until the final stages of the race at which time he was obliged to put the whip away as TEN SPEED was laying in and he was aware that TELEPHATIA was awkwardly placed inside the heels of TEN SPEED over the concluding stages. Trainer C W Chang advised the Stewards that, from a wide barrier, he had instructed Y T Cheng to shift TEN SPEED across behind runners as the horse does not have sufficient early speed to be able to be ridden along and cross runners to its inside. He said whilst the horse had been able to obtain a midfield position in the past, this had been from more favourable barriers. He said he also instructed Y T Cheng to attempt to improve his position prior to the Home Turn as the horse was backing up from a run last Monday and due to racing at Happy Valley with the rail in the C+3 position tonight, he felt the horse would need to be put in the race prior to the turn to be a competitive chance at the end of the race. Mr Chang said after viewing the videos, he felt it was available for Jockey Cheng to shift TEN SPEED out from behind TELEPHATIA approaching the Home Turn in order to follow REAL GENEROUS which at that time was being ridden along to obtain a more forward position. Y T Cheng was severely reprimanded regarding his riding of TEN SPEED from after the 500 Metres until entering the Straight. Y T Cheng was advised that it was of concern that he had previously been spoken to this season regarding his handling of horses in races and that his riding of TEN SPEED at this stage of the race had again come under notice. Mr Chang was advised that his explanation was noted. A veterinary inspection of TEN SPEED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of TELEPHATIA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SUPER SPRINTER and NOBLE DE MAN were sent for sampling.