20/04/2017  Happy Valley  Race 8

At declaration time, Z Purton was declared as the rider of both JADE FORTUNE and PHOTON WILLIE. It was established that Z Purton had a firm commitment to ride JADE FORTUNE. As such, the Stewards permitted K Teetan to be substituted as the rider of PHOTON WILLIE. For this declaration error, Trainer P O’Sullivan was fined $2,000. FANTASTIC KAKA began only fairly and then lost ground when crowded for room between MY GIFT and YOUNG RANGER which shifted out. From the outside barriers, PHOTON WILLIE and HERO LOOK were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. LITTERATEUR was also steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Passing the 1400 Metres, FANTASTIC KAKA commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of CHATER LEGEND. YOUNG RANGER lost its right front plate approaching the winning position on the first occasion. Near the 650 Metres, LAND GRANT was taken wider by WISKY which shifted to the outside of JADE FORTUNE. After this, LAND GRANT travelled wide and without cover. YOUNG RANGER made the Home Turn awkwardly. At the entrance to the Straight, CHATER LEGEND shifted out and brushed LAND GRANT. Also at the entrance to the Straight, YOUNG RANGER was directed in away from the heels of WISKY. Approaching the 100 Metres, PHOTON WILLIE was directed out away from the heels of YOUNG RANGER to continue improving. In the Straight, LAND GRANT lay in under pressure and passing the 100 Metres was awkwardly placed outside the heels of CHATER LEGEND when proving difficult to ride. When questioned, H W Lai stated that he had been asked to ride THUNDER STOMP in about a midfield position with cover. He said it was felt that there were a number of horses that would be ridden up on the speed and were he to ride THUNDER STOMP positively, that horse may be left racing wide. He said in accordance with his instructions he steadied THUNDER STOMP in the early stages as LAND GRANT, which was racing directly to the inside of THUNDER STOMP, was being ridden along to obtain a forward position. He said as he shifted across to race behind LAND GRANT, MY GIFT maintained its position one horse off the rail, resulting in THUNDER STOMP being left racing three wide. He said he then steadied THUNDER STOMP further with a view to shifting in behind MY GIFT as he felt that he may be able to manoeuvre LITTERATEUR closer to the rail to allow THUNDER STOMP to obtain cover one horse off the rail behind MY GIFT. He said however that LITTERATEUR maintained its position one horse off the rail and this resulted in THUNDER STOMP initially being very awkward on the heels of MY GIFT and then being left racing in a three wide position and much further back in the field that had been intended. Prior to concluding this matter, the Stewards will interview Mr Y S Tsui, the trainer of THUNDER STOMP, prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting to be conducted on Sunday, 23 April 2017. A veterinary inspection of THUNDER STOMP immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that PHOTON WILLIE was lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, PHOTON WILLIE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of FANTASTIC KAKA and AGREE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. JADE FORTUNE, CHATER LEGEND and WISKY were sent for sampling. <23/4/2017 20 April 2017 Happy Valley Racemeeting – Race 8 (588)>The Stewards today questioned Mr Y S Tsui, the trainer of THUNDER STOMP, regarding the instructions he provided to H W Lai in this race. Mr Tsui stated that when THUNDER STOMP was successful on 22 February 2017 when drawn barrier 1, the horse had to be ridden along vigorously to take advantage of its inside draw. He said this demonstrated to him that THUNDER STOMP would not have sufficient early speed to cross LAND GRANT in this race as he anticipated that that horse would be ridden in a forward position, therefore he instructed Jockey Lai to obtain a position in about midfield if possible. He said, apart from when THUNDER STOMP had drawn inside barriers, it had always been his instructions to riders for the horse to be ridden in about a midfield position. He added when Jockey Lai steadied THUNDER STOMP in the early stages with a view to taking a trailing position behind LAND GRANT, this was in accordance with the manner in which he was instructed to ride the horse. He said however MY GIFT was able to hold its position one horse off the rail in the early stages which resulted in THUNDER STOMP being left racing wide and he therefore accepted Jockey Lai’s decision to further steady THUNDER STOMP with a view to hopefully obtaining a position with cover.