06/03/2019  Happy Valley  Race 6

On arrival at the Start, the Veterinary Officer reported that RAZOR QUEST was found to be lame in the right front leg and accordingly was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, RAZOR QUEST was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, RAZOR QUEST will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WILLIE WAY was crowded for room on jumping between NAMJONG PLUS and FAMOUS WARRIOR which shifted in. In this incident, WILLIE WAY made contact with the hindquarters of NAMJONG PLUS which became unbalanced. After this, from wide barriers, NAMJONG PLUS and WILLIE WAY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. PIKACHU began awkwardly. C Schofield (NAMJONG PLUS) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 350 Metres he directed his mount to the outside of SLEEP EDUCATION when not clear of WILLIE WAY and bumped that horse which in turn shifted out across the rightful running of PIKACHU which was checked and forced wider. C Schofield was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 24 March 2019 and to expire on Thursday, 28 March 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In addition, C Schofield was fined $40,000. Passing the 250 Metres, FAITHFUL TRINITY shifted out and bumped HELENE CHARISMA. FAITHFUL TRINITY was then directed to the inside of VIGOR FAME after the 200 Metres to obtain clear running. Close to the finishing line, SLEEP EDUCATION raced in restricted room between YOU HAVE MY WORD and NAMJONG PLUS which shifted in under pressure. For the majority of the race, WILLIE WAY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, K C Leung advised that he was asked to ride RED ELYSEES in about 5th or 6th position. He said from a wide barrier he was able to obtain a good trailing position behind SLEEP EDUCATION in the early stages in advance of midfield. He said RED ELYSEES was very awkwardly placed behind SLEEP EDUCATION for some distance after passing the winning post on the first occasion as that horse did not seem to be maintaining its positon behind FAMOUS WARRIOR. He said RED ELYSEES continued to be very awkwardly placed behind SLEEP EDUCATION near the 1200 Metres. He said when WILLIE WAY commenced to improve its position to the outside of RED ELYSEES near the 1100 Metres, he was reluctant to allow WILLIE WAY to improve around his mount as this may have resulted in RED ELYSEES continuing to be very awkwardly placed behind SLEEP EDUCATION. He said as the tempo of the race was not fast at this time, he elected to shift to the outside of SLEEP EDUCATION and improve his position to race outside the lead near the 800 Metres. He said RED ELYSEES, which was up in grade tonight, came under pressure prior to the Home Turn and then did not finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of RED ELYSEES immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. The performance of RED ELYSEES, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, RED ELYSEES will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As T H So, the rider of YOU HAVE MY WORD, had departed the course, the Stewards will interview him regarding his riding out of that horse in the Straight, in particular approaching and passing the 100 Metres. A veterinary inspection of FAMOUS WARRIOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. HELENE CHARISMA and VIGOR FAME were sent for sampling. <10/3/2019 6 March 2019 Happy Valley Racemeeting - Race 6 (475)>When questioned regarding his riding of YOU HAVE MY WORD in the Straight, T H So stated that at the entrance to the Straight he shifted YOU HAVE MY WORD in to follow HELENE CHARISMA through as he expected this horse would finish off the race. He said after riding his mount hard after the 200 Metres, YOU HAVE MY WORD commenced to shift out towards RED ELYSEES which was positioned to the outside of YOU HAVE MY WORD. He said for this reason he put the whip away on YOU HAVE MY WORD and straightened his mount before resuming riding it out over the final 100 Metres.