20/12/2017  Happy Valley  Race 5

From wide barriers, RIGHT HONOURABLE, JOYFUL PARK and CELESTIAL NOVA were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. SMART BABY was also steadied in the early stages to obtain a position with cover. Shortly after the start, LEISURED FEET shifted out and bumped EVER LAUGH. After the 1400 Metres, SMART BABY and EVER LAUGH raced tight. Near the 950 Metres, EVER LAUGH commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of CURLING LUXURY. Approaching the 800 Metres, SMART BABY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LEISURED FEET. Near the 450 Metres, SPARKLING SWORD was momentarily awkwardly placed outside the heels of SICHUAN BOSS which shifted to the outside of CELESTIAL NOVA. Rounding the Home Turn, CELESTIAL NOVA came under pressure, shifted out and in doing so bumped SICHUAN BOSS, causing both horses to become unbalanced. When questioned, Apprentice H T Mo stated that, from the outside barrier, he was instructed to shift CELESTIAL NOVA across behind runners in the early stages. He said he was also asked to improve his position in the Back Straight on CELESTIAL NOVA in an attempt to take up a more forward position as the tempo of a number of races run at Happy Valley tends to slow up during this period of the race. He said in accordance with his instructions he shifted CELESTIAL NOVA across behind runners in the early stages and then approaching the 1000 Metres commenced to ride his mount along to improve his position around the field. He said CELESTIAL NOVA, when being ridden along, was able to improve its position to race in the lead near the 600 Metres. He said after this CELESTIAL NOVA came under pressure rounding the Home Turn and then weakened in the Straight. Mr C S Shum, trainer of CELESTIAL NOVA, stated that he had instructed Apprentice Mo to improve his position in the Back Straight if he was able. He said, given the tempo of the race after the 1200 Metres, Apprentice Mo should have remained racing at the rear of the field as going forward at this time of the race, given the tempo of the race was inside standard, was not in the best interests of CELESTIAL NOVA. He added however that he may have not been explicit enough when giving his instructions to provide Apprentice Mo with sufficient scope to properly asses the tempo of the race before making the forward move on CELESTIAL NOVA. Mr Shum was told that, in the opinion of the Stewards, as an experienced trainer, he should have provided Apprentice Mo with less rigid instructions than he did on this occasion. He was advised that all riders, and in particular apprentice jockeys, must not be tied down to rigid instructions where they believe that they are not provided with the opportunity to exercise judgement and initiative to take into account the circumstances of the race. Apprentice Mo was advised that whilst the Stewards accepted that he had been given relatively strict instructions and that as an apprentice jockey, he is not expected to show the same level of judgement and initiative as are more senior riders who have considerably more experience, nonetheless he has ridden in a good many races both overseas and in Hong Kong and, in their opinion, his riding of CELESTIAL NOVA, irrespective of the instructions, lacked judgement and initiative given the tempo of the race at the relevant time. He was told that all jockeys in Hong Kong, irrespective of their status, are expected to ride their mounts in such a manner so that they are able to finish off their race as best as they are able. A veterinary inspection of LEISURED FEET immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SMART BABY immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SMART BABY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. EVER LAUGH, RIGHT HONOURABLE and GENERAL DINO were sent for sampling.