05/06/2019  Happy Valley  Race 8

After being loaded into the barriers, HAPPY DRAGON got its head down abruptly and then got out under the front gates, resulting in its rider, U Rispoli, becoming wedged between HAPPY DRAGON and under the front gates. HAPPY DRAGON then proceeded riderless for some distance before being recaptured. Acting on veterinary advice that HAPPY DRAGON was not suitable to race, the horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY DRAGON will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination From the outside barriers, CHARITY GO and HELENE CHARISMA were steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages. When being steadied to be shifted across behind runners, CHARITY GO was bumped by CHEFANO shortly after the start. After initially being ridden along to take up a forward position, MR SO AND SO was steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover when MR SO AND SO did not show sufficient speed to cross runners to its inside. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, GREEN LUCK was awkwardly placed outside the heels of GLORIOUS ARTIST after being bumped by CHEFANO which shifted in. Then passing the winning post on the first occasion, GREEN LUCK was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DOCTOR GEOFF. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, CHARITY GO got its head up, proved very difficult to settle and shifted out, hampering MR SO AND SO which was then steadied to obtain cover behind CHARITY GO after the 1300 Metres. Near the 1100 Metres, GLORIOUS ARTIST got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of NOT USUAL TALENT as that horse was steadied to allow CHEFANO to cross. K Teetan (CHEFANO) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 1000 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not sufficiently clear of NOT USUAL TALENT, causing that horse to be unnecessarily hampered when steadied away from the heels of CHEFANO and having to shift out away from the heels of that horse and ultimately causing DOCTOR GEOFF to be crowded for room between NOT USUAL TALENT SHOW and PARTY TOGETHER after the 950 Metres. K Teetan was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Sunday, 23 June 2019 and to expire on Thursday, 27 June 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey K Teetan’s good race riding record. Approaching the 600 Metres, NOT USUAL TALENT was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of PARTY TOGETHER. Near the 450 Metres, GLORIOUS ARTIST shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of NOT USUAL TALENT which became unbalanced. Near the 350 Metres, HELENE CHARISMA was checked away from the heels of CHEFANO which was momentarily awkwardly placed inside PARTY TOGETHER which shifted in after racing tight inside VICTORY BOYS. NOT USUAL TALENT had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. In the early part of the Straight, DOCTOR GEOFF raced with its head on the side and lay in. A Domeyer (DOCTOR GEOFF) was advised to exercise more care for allowing his mount to shift out after the 100 Metres and bumping GREEN LUCK and was also reprimanded for failing to take sufficient measures to prevent his mount from again shifting out passing the 50 Metres, resulting in GREEN LUCK being hampered. When GREEN LUCK was shifted out away from the heels of DOCTOR GEOFF close to the finishing line, NOT USUAL TALENT, which was following, was steadied and shifted in away from the heels of that horse. Consequently NOT USUAL TALENT was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the view that two incidents occurred over the final 100 Metres which cast sufficient doubt as to whether DOCTOR GEOFF should be declared the winner. It was found that passing the 100 Metres DOCTOR GEOFF shifted out and bumped GREEN LUCK. It was further established that passing the 50 Metres DOCTOR GEOFF again shifted out, resulting in GREEN LUCK having to be shifted out away from the heels of that horse. Having regard to the margin between the two horses at the relevant stages of the race and at the end of the race, the Stewards did not believe that had the incidents not occurred GREEN LUCK would have finished in front of DOCTOR GEOFF and therefore the matter did not proceed to a formal objection/protest hearing with weighed-in being semaphored on the Judge’s placings. Whilst it did not have any bearing on the Stewards’ decision not to proceed to a formal protest/objection hearing, it should be noted that neither Jockey Z Purton nor the connections of GREEN LUCK lodged a protest/objection. When questioned, G van Niekerk (CHARITY GO) stated that from the wide barrier he was asked to relax the horse in the early stages and shift it across behind runners in order to have it finish off the race which it had not been doing in its recent races. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that VICTORY BOYS finished mildly distressed. Before being allowed to race again, VICTORY BOYS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. DOCTOR GEOFF and GREEN LUCK were sent for sampling.