16/10/2019  Happy Valley  Race 4

CHEERFUL STAR began awkwardly, shifted out and inconvenienced GOOD DAYS. DREAM WARRIORS was crowded for room on jumping between GODSPEED which shifted out and GARLIC YEAH which shifted in after beginning awkwardly. GARLIC YEAH was then crowded for room a short distance after the start between DREAM WARRIORS which continued to race tight outside GODSPEED and BULLISH GLORY which shifted in. After this, BULLISH GLORY was steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. After shifting in to race outside the leader MISTER MONTE after passing the winning post on the first occasion, DREAM WARRIORS commenced to travel keenly approaching and passing the 1200 Metres and was consequently allowed to improve its position forward of MISTER MONTE to obtain the outright lead near the 1000 Metres. At the 900 Metres, BULLISH GLORY was shifted out to commence to improve its position and after this travelled wide and without cover. C Schofield (BULLISH GLORY) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 300 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of MISTER MONTE, resulting in MISTER MONTE being dictated inwards and causing that horse to shift in and crowd CHEERFUL STAR. As a result of being dictated inwards and making contact with CHEERFUL STAR, MISTER MONTE became badly unbalanced and shifted in further, resulting in CHEERFUL STAR being badly crowded for room outside DREAM WARRIORS which was hampered. C Schofield was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 6 November 2019 and to expire on Sunday, 10 November 2019 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into account Jockey Schofield’s good race riding record. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FAMILY LEADER, Z Purton stated that he had to make considerable use of FAMILY LEADER in the early stages to take up a forward position as instructed. He said it was not until approaching the winning post on the first occasion that he was able to steady FAMILY LEADER with a view to obtaining a trailing position behind DREAM WARRIORS. He said due to DREAM WARRIORS obtaining a position outside MISTER MONTE and as THE FULL BLOOM was maintaining its position to the inside of FAMILY LEADER, FAMILY LEADER was left racing wide and without cover until near the 1000 Metres at which time the horse was able to shift in to race outside MISTER MONTE. He said FAMILY LEADER did not travel well at any stage of the race and he had to niggle it along prior to the 800 Metres to maintain its position. He said he slapped the horse down the shoulder with the whip after the 800 Metres as FAMILY LEADER was struggling to maintain its position. He added he continued to ride his mount along approaching and passing the 700 Metres, however, FAMILY LEADER would not respond to his riding and did not improve its position. He said after the 600 Metres he was required to ride FAMILY LEADER aggressively, however, the horse commenced to give ground after the 500 Metres and became unbalanced in its action near the 450 Metres. Having regard to the manner in which FAMILY LEADER had failed to travel throughout the race and the manner in which it gave ground, he was concerned that something may have been amiss with the horse and therefore he eased it down in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of FAMILY LEADER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of FAMILY LEADER, favourite for tonight’s race and which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FAMILY LEADER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Mr C Fownes, the trainer of FAMILY LEADER, will be interviewed regarding the horse’s performance prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 20 October 2019. When questioned regarding the performance of SANGRIA, U Rispoli stated that the horse travelled satisfactorily in the early and middle stages, however, as he attempted to follow BULLISH GLORY forward prior to the 500 Metres, SANGRIA did not quicken with that horse and came under pressure. He said, despite being ridden along rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, SANGRIA did not improve its position and lost ground on BULLISH GLORY. He added after this SANGRIA was disappointing in its failure to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of SANGRIA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of DREAM WARRIORS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. FAMILY LEADER, KING’S MAN and BULLISH GLORY were sent for sampling. <20/10/2019 16 October 2019 Happy Valley Racemeeting – Race 4 (100)>The Stewards today questioned Mr C Fownes, the trainer of FAMILY LEADER, regarding the disappointing performance of that horse. Mr Fownes explained that FAMILY LEADER had done well in the lead up to this race and he expected the horse to perform accordingly. He said whilst he did not give any specific instructions on how FAMILY LEADER should be ridden, he expected the horse, which was third up, to race in a forward position, however, it was hoped that it would be able to obtain cover. He said Z Purton, the rider of FAMILY LEADER, had to make more use of the horse in the early stages than anticipated to take up a forward position, however, he expected that it would be able to finish off the race better than it did. He added FAMILY LEADER had pulled up satisfactorily after the race and therefore he was not able to offer any explanation for the performance of the horse. As previously reported, FAMILY LEADER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again.