01/07/2021  Shatin  Race 2

FOR FUN’S SAKE lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and then was crowded for room between GARLIC HERO and ONE STEP AHEAD which shifted out. LUCKY TURBO began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped TELECOM MISSILE. VOYAGE STAR shifted out at the start and inconvenienced DESTINE JEWELLERY. WAYFOONG STAR was bumped by ALLOY KING on jumping. After this, WAYFOONG STAR was steadied with a view to obtaining cover. Approaching and passing the 1000 Metres, WAYFOONG STAR travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover behind M M JOHNNY. WAYFOONG STAR then made the turn near the 900 Metres awkwardly and got its head on the side and lay out approaching and passing the 600 Metres. Despite being ridden along for some distance in the early stages, M M JOHNNY failed to muster speed. Approaching the 1100 Metres, LUCKY TURBO was momentarily steadied away from the heels of TELECOM MISSILE which shifted in. FOR FUN’S SAKE, which was following LUCKY TURBO, was inconvenienced in consequence. Making the turn at the 900 Metres, JUNGLE BLAZE and TELECOM MISSILE raced tight. Passing the 900 Metres, GARLIC HERO became unbalanced of its own accord and near the 850 Metres momentarily raced tight inside GOLDEN MISSION which was then corrected by its rider and shifted out. Passing the 700 Metres, LUCKY TURBO got its head up on a number of occasions when racing ungenerously. Then near the 650 Metres, LUCKY TURBO shifted out and bumped DESTINE JEWELLERY which was hampered when taken out across the heels of M M JOHNNY. At the entrance to the Straight, JUNGLE BLAZE was awkwardly placed behind GARLIC HERO. ONE STEP AHEAD had difficulty obtaining clear running approaching the 200 Metres and then passing the 200 Metres was shifted to the outside of VOYAGE STAR after being disappointed for running between that horse which lay in and GOLDEN MISSION. Passing the 200 Metres, FOR FUN’S SAKE race tight outside ALLOY KING which shifted out marginally. Throughout the race, ALLOY KING travelled wide and without cover. The declaration of weighed-in was deferred after the Stewards were advised by the Clerk of the Scales, Mr V W S Poon, that M F Poon, the rider of M M JOHNNY, which finished 10th, could not draw the horse’s correct weight of 127 lbs which incorporated Jockey Poon’s 2 lb weight allowance (125 lbs). Evidence was taken from Jockey Poon, Mr Y S Tsui, the trainer of M M JOHNNY, and Mr Poon. It was established that following the race Jockey Poon weighed in at 125.5 lbs, 1.5 lbs underweight. Rule 113(3) provides that in the event of a jockey being unable to draw the correct weight, the Clerk of the Scales will allow him 1 lb. If he cannot then draw the weight, the horse shall on a sustained protest/objection be disqualified from the race. Acting under the powers of Rule 113(3), the Stewards disqualified M M JOHNNY from this race. At a subsequent inquiry, it was established that after weighing out in a heavier safety vest due to M M JOHNNY’s allocated weight, Jockey Poon then changed the safety vest to a lighter safety vest to check his riding weight for GENERAL TRUMP in Race 3 which was weighted at 117 lbs (115 lbs with the weight allowance). Jockey Poon advised the Stewards that he then neglected to change back into the heavier safety vest which resulted in him weighing in light on M M JOHNNY. Having regard to the difference in weight between the two safety vests, the Stewards were satisfied that Jockey Poon’s failure to change back into the safety vest in which he weighed out for on M M JOHNNY was the reason for him returning underweight. Jockey Poon pleaded guilty to a breach of Rule 12(32), the particulars being that he was negligent in the performance of his duties which led to a breach of Rule 113(3) in that after weighing out to ride M M JOHNNY in Race 2, he did negligently change the safety vest with which he weighed out at to a lighter safety vest which resulted in him weighing in light after the race and which resulted in M M JOHNNY being disqualified from the race. After considering the circumstances of this case, the Stewards decided that a penalty of suspension from riding in races incorporating 3 racedays was appropriate. Given the limited number of racemeetings remaining for the current racing season, the Stewards were of the opinion that the appropriate penalty was for Jockey Poon’s licence to ride in races to be suspended for the Happy Valley racemeeting to be conducted on Wednesday, 14 July 2021. In addition, Jockey Poon was fined the sum of $100,000 in lieu of a period of suspension incorporating 2 further racedays. A veterinary inspection of GARLIC HERO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ONE STEP AHEAD, TELECOM MISSILE and VOYAGE STAR were sent for sampling.