10/05/2017  Happy Valley  Race 5

MR KOOL was slow to begin. DUTCH WINDMILL began awkwardly and shortly after the start shifted in and bumped AMAZING ALWAYS. KWAICHUNG BROTHERS was crowded for room on jumping between FORMULA GALORE and SPARKLING SWORD which shifted out. From the outside barrier, GREAT JOY was restrained in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, DUTCH WINDMILL was awkwardly placed outside the heels of CONTRIBUTION when being steadied to obtain cover. In the early stages, NEVER BETTER was steadied and shifted across behind runners. Passing the 200 Metres, AMAZING ALWAYS raced tight inside DUTCH WINDMILL which hung in under pressure in the Straight. Then near the 150 Metres, AMAZING ALWAYS was steadied when crowded for room inside DUTCH WINDMILL which got its head on the side and shifted in away from GREAT JOY despite the efforts of its rider. Approaching the 100 Metres, NEVER BETTER raced tight inside KWAICHUNG BROTHERS. AMAZING ALWAYS lost its right front plate after the race. The Stewards inquired into Apprentice K K Chiong’s riding of CONTRIBUTION in this race. Called before the Stewards were Apprentice Chiong, Mr A S Cruz, the trainer of CONTRIBUTION and Mr K W Lui, allocated trainer of Apprentice Chiong. Mr Cruz stated that after establishing with Apprentice Chiong that she had viewed Jockey J Moreira’s ride on the horse at its most recent start when successful, he had asked her to ride in a similar manner, that was to lead, not to overly restrain CONTRIBUTION and to use the whip sparingly on the horse. He said at its last start CONTRIBUTION began well and was able to run quick sectionals but still finished off the race strongly to win. Apprentice Chiong confirmed these instructions, however, as the start was effected CONTRIBUTION lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently began only fairly. She said having in mind her instructions, she then rode CONTRIBUTION along aggressively in the early stages to make up lost ground and take up a forward position. She said CONTRIBUTION had to be ridden along for some distance to gather momentum and she was required to slap the horse down the shoulder with the whip in an endeavour to have it take up a prominent position. When asked by the Stewards as to whether she gave consideration to allowing CONTRIBUTION to settle behind FORMULA GALORE after the 1500 Metres given the manner in which it had begun and the amount of use she had to make of CONTRIBUTION, she said she was aware that SPARKLING SWORD and FORMULA GALORE had occupied the leading positions and further out on the track both DUTCH WINDMILL and MIDNITE PROMISE were also being ridden along to obtain prominent positions, she therefore felt that had she have settled in the position behind FORMULA GALORE, this would have resulted in CONTRIBUTION racing much further back in the field than had been intended. She added therefore she did not give consideration to this option rather she continued to press forward on CONTRIBUTION to race outside the leader SPARKLING SWORD near the 1200 Metres. She said she did briefly consider allowing CONTRIBUTION to remain outside SPARKLING SWORD after the 1200 Metres, however, it seemed to her that that horse was being restrained to take up a trailing position and therefore she felt that CONTRIBUTION would be able to advance forward of SPARKLING SWORD into the lead without having to make any further use of the horse. She said after obtaining the outright lead after the 1100 Metres, she immediately commenced to steady CONTRIBUTION as although the horse had run strong sectionals at its last start, she was aware that she had to make considerable use of it in the early stages and therefore she attempted to have it settle in the lead. She said however that, despite her efforts, CONTRIBUTION would not settle and opened up a significant margin over the field when again running strong sectionals. She added however that in tonight’s race the horse commenced to give ground rounding the Home Turn and then weakened in the Straight. Mr Cruz stated that whilst he had given instructions to lead, these instructions had been predicated on the belief that the horse would begin well. He said having regard to the manner in which the horse began and the fact that it did not show natural early speed, in his opinion, Apprentice Chiong should have positioned CONTRIBUTION behind FORMULA GALORE approaching the winning post on the first occasion to allow the horse the opportunity to be able to finish off its race. Mr Lui stated that, in his opinion, Apprentice Chiong should have adapted to the circumstances of the horse beginning badly and should have either obtained a trailing positon behind FORMULA GALORE or remained racing outside SPARKLING SWORD, a horse he trains. After considering all the evidence, the Stewards informed Apprentice Chiong that whilst riders are given instructions on how a horse should be ridden and that appropriate attempts should be made to comply with these instructions, it is expected that jockeys should show judgement and initiative and ride their horses according to the circumstances. Apprentice Chiong was advised that her riding of this horse was not up to the standard expected of a jockey in Hong Kong. She was further advised to ensure that she rides her mounts in such a manner so that they are given the opportunity to finish off the race as best as they are able. A veterinary inspection of CONTRIBUTION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SUM WIN DRAGON and MR KOOL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CONTRIBUTION, GREAT JOY and FORMULA GALORE were sent for sampling. <11/5/2017 Additional Veterinary Report>SUN WIN DRAGON, which performed poorly, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said at that time there were no significant findings. SUM WIN DRAGON was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer A Lee this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, SUM WIN DRAGON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.