12/09/2018  Happy Valley  Race 8

HELENE CHARISMA and WINNING FAITH were slow to begin. LITTERATEUR and JADE FORTUNE bumped at the start. XIANG BAI QI was crowded for room on jumping between TURIN REDSTAR and PRETTY BAUHINIA which shifted out. Then from a wide barrier, XIANG BAI QI was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After being ridden along in the early stages from a wide barrier, KINGSFIELD, when racing very wide after passing the winning post on the first occasion, was steadied to obtain cover. As KINGSFIELD was being steadied to shift in behind TURIN REDSTAR and PRETTY BAUHINIA, XIANG BAI QI, which was being ridden along, was steadied away from the heels of that horse and in doing so shifted in, resulting in LITTERATEUR being taken in onto JADE FORTUNE which in turn was taken in onto WINNING FAITH which was checked. HELENE CHARISMA, which was following, was checked away from the heels of WINNING FAITH in consequence. D Whyte (LIMITLESS) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 1300 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of CIRCUIT GLORY, resulting in that horse losing the running to which it was rightfully entitled and being checked. D Whyte was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 3 October 2018 and to expire on Monday, 8 October 2018 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Whyte’s good race riding record. TURIN REDSTAR travelled wide and without cover until after the 900 Metres. Approaching the 400 Metres, WINNING FAITH was awkwardly placed behind BLOCKER DEE. After the 200 Metres, HELENE CHARISMA was awkwardly placed close to the heels of KINGSFIELD which shifted out marginally. XIANG BAI QI was shifted out away from the heels of HELENE CHARISMA in consequence near the 150 Metres. Passing the 150 Metres, WINNING FAITH was awkwardly placed behind LITTERATEUR when being shifted to the outside of that horse to obtain clear running. When questioned, D Whyte stated that it was intended for LIMITLESS to be ridden in a position midfield or worse. He said however LIMITLESS began very well and, despite his efforts, he was unable to restrain the horse to race off the speed. He said LIMITLESS proved very difficult to settle in the early stages and he had no alternative but to allow the horse to lead. He said, despite his efforts, LIMITLESS continued to travel keenly throughout the early and middle stages of the race and consequently was not able to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of LIMITLESS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of WINNING FAITH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CIRCUIT GLORY and TURIN REDSTAR were sent for sampling.