16/10/2016  Shatin  Race 1

SUPER EURO STAR, which was fractious in the stalls, will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test before being allowed to race again. CARRY TO WIN and FIONN'S CITY were slow to begin. RED SUN and AMBITIOUS HEART were crowded for room on jumping between SEA JADE and DON WONGCHOY which shifted out away from FANTASTIC FABIO. In this incident, SEA JADE became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by RED SUN and also when bumped by STARLOT which got its head on the side and shifted in. Passing the 600 Metres, FANTASTIC FABIO was awkwardly placed close to the heels of PREMIERE. CARRY TO WIN had some difficulty obtaining clear running after the 400 Metres and near the 200 Metres was steadied after momentarily racing in restricted room between DON WONGCHOY and FANTASTIC FABIO which shifted in. K C Leung (AMBITIOUS HEART) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 50 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out under pressure when not clear of CARRY TO WIN, causing that horse to be checked away from the heels of AMBITIOUS HEART. K C Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 26 October 2016 and to expire on Monday, 31 October 2016 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, K C Leung was fined $20,000. Close to the finishing line, S Clipperton, the rider of SEA JADE, stopped riding his mount when FIONN'S CITY shifted out abruptly in advance of SEA JADE away from the heels of PREMIERE. When questioned regarding the performance of SEA JADE, S Clipperton stated that the horse, which was coming back in distance from the 1200 Metres to the 1000 Metres, was not as comfortable over the straight course as it was at its last start around the bends. He said because of this he recommended to connections after the race that they consider stepping the horse back up in distance in its future races. The Stewards questioned M L Yeung regarding his riding of FIONN'S CITY particularly over the final 200 Metres. M L Yeung stated that after being instructed to have his horse in as forward a position as possible, he rode his mount aggressively in the early stages including slapping it down the shoulder with the whip, however, FIONN'S CITY did not show any early speed which resulted in the horse racing at the rear of the field. He said he rode the horse continuously throughout the early and middle stages as FIONN'S CITY was showing no interest in racing and was not responding to his riding. He said because of this at the 600 Metres he commenced to use the whip on FIONN'S CITY in an endeavour to have it finish off the race. He said, despite using the whip on a number of occasions, FIONN'S CITY did not respond to his riding until passing the 200 Metres at which time the horse commenced to pick up ground. He said when FIONN'S CITY gained ground rapidly, he stopped using the whip on the horse to direct it in away from the heels of SEA JADE to improve into a tight run which was some distance in advance of FIONN'S CITY between SEA JADE and STARLOT. He said FIONN'S CITY would not respond to his riding and despite him directing the horse's head inwards, FIONN'S CITY would not shift in away from the outside rail and it was not until FIONN'S CITY improved onto the heels of SEA JADE that the horse then shifted in away from behind that horse. He added after shifting to the inside of SEA JADE approaching the 50 Metres, he commenced to use the whip in the right hand on FIONN'S CITY to improve into a run which was available between PREMIERE and CHEER WIN. He said he was then not able to use the whip on the horse as FIONN'S CITY, of its own accord, shifted out onto the heels of PREMIERE, resulting in him having to check severely away from the heels of that horse until he was able to shift FIONN'S CITY to the outside of PREMIERE. He said at all stages over the final 200 Metres he was not able to control FIONN'S CITY which, despite his best endeavours, took charge of him. After having considered the evidence of Jockey Yeung, viewed all the available footage and after also considering the horse's previous history in which it had been stood down on two occasions out of three races for proving difficult to manage, the Stewards advised Jockey Yeung that they would report his explanation. Trainer C S Shum was advised that FIONN'S CITY would be required to barrier trial to the satisfaction of the Stewards before being permitted to race again and that an apprentice jockey would not be permitted to ride the horse. He was further advised that the Stewards would monitor the racing manners of FIONN'S CITY closely in its future starts so as to ensure that the horse does not present a safety risk. SEA JADE, CHEER WIN and PREMIERE were sent for sampling.