08/03/2020  Shatin  Race 11

The Stewards today interviewed Mr K W Lui, the trainer of VALIANT DREAM, regarding that horse being withdrawn from this race by order of the Stewards after being inadvertently treated on the morning of Friday, 6 March 2020 and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter YOUNG THUNDER (M L Yeung). Also interviewed was Mr W P Lam, head lad allocated to Mr Lui’s stable for the current racing season. Mr Lui was fined the sum of $20,000 for breaching the Rules of Racing in that as the person responsible for all matters pertaining to the running of his stable and the work of the stable staff allocated to him, he failed in the management of his stable as a result of VALIANT DREAM being inadvertently treated and having to be withdrawn from this race on 6 March 2020. Mr Lam was advised that this matter would be referred to Stables Management in respect of his involvement. Just prior to the start, TEAM SPIRIT (C Schofield) became fractious and then as the start was effected began only fairly. TEAM SPIRIT was then steadied away from the heels of LUCKY MORE which shifted out. After the race, C Schofield confirmed that it was the intention to lead. BEAUTY AMIGO began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped YOUNG THUNDER. After this, YOUNG THUNDER was steadied to obtain cover. From the outside barriers, AFRICAN SKY, SHINING GEM and GRADE ONE were all steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Approaching the 1000 Metres, ALL IN MIND got its head up when awkwardly placed behind PING HAI BRAVO. Passing the 1000 Metres, WHISKEY NEAT, which was being steadied to obtain cover, got its head up and proved very difficult to settle. A short distance later, WHISKEY NEAT, which continued to race ungenerously, was crowded for room between BIG FORTUNE and LUCKY MORE (Z Purton) which shifted out. After this, WHISKEY NEAT continued to race ungenerously and shifted in approaching the 900 Metres, resulting in PING HAI BRAVO shifting in away from the heels of that horse which resulted in ALL IN MIND being hampered when crowded for room. AFRICAN SKY and YOUNG THUNDER, which were following, were inconvenienced in consequence. Z Purton was advised that whilst the Stewards accepted that WHISKEY NEAT proving very difficult to manage had contributed significantly to this incident, nonetheless he had shifted out which had exacerbated the difficulties being experienced by the rider of WHISKEY NEAT and accordingly he was told to ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground. Passing the 800 Metres, WHISKEY NEAT again got its head up when proving difficult to settle and shifted out across the heels of BIG FORTUNE, resulting in WHISKEY NEAT being checked and losing ground. Throughout the race, BIG FORTUNE travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of TEAM SPIRIT and BIG FORTUNE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LUCKY MORE and MERIDIAN GENIUS were sent for sampling.