16/01/2008  Happy Valley  Race 3

WINNING SPEED was slow to begin and shortly after the start was hampered when crowded for room inside MY LUCK which shifted in. VIVA FIGHTER was slow to begin. Apprentice C W Wong (DR POSSI) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 1500 Metres he failed to make sufficient effort to prevent his mount from shifting in across the rightful running of PROPELLOR, resulting in that horse being checked and WINNING SPEED being hampered. In the circumstances, Apprentice Wong was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday 31 January 2008 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Wednesday 23 January 2008. In addition, Apprentice Wong was fined $10,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 1 further raceday. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, WINNING SPEED was awkwardly placed close to the heels of OPERATION SECRET when being shifted in to a position behind that horse. Also passing the winning post on the first occasion, MY LUCK was steadied away from the heels of CLASSA SUPREME (H W Lai) which shifted in when barely clear. After this, MY LUCK was checked away from the heels of CLASSA SUPREME when that horse steadied the tempo. H W Lai was reprimanded and told to ensure he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in future and was also warned about the practice of unnecessarily steadying the pace. Passing the 1300 Metres, VIVA FIGHTER shifted out when close to the heels of PROPELLOR and in doing so shifted I’M NO SQUARE wider. Passing the 1200 Metres, VIVA FIGHTER again was steadied away from the heels of PROPELLOR. Passing the 200 Metres, I’M NO SQUARE was steadied away from the heels of PROPELLOR. Then at the 100 Metres, I’M NO SQUARE was again steadied away from the heels of PROPELLOR and shifted to the outside of that horse to continue going forward. When under pressure over the last 150 Metres, VIVA FIGHTER hung out and because of this inside the final 50 Metres, F Coetzee, its rider, changed the whip into his left hand. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of PERSEVERANCE, B Prebble said his mount was reluctant to stretch out in the early stages and was inclined to lay in. He said PERSEVERANCE’s action in front throughout the race did not feel as good as it normally does. PERSEVERANCE was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. A veterinary inspection of PERSEVERANCE after the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, PERSEVERANCE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WINNING SPEED and I’M NO SQUARE were sent for an official veterinary inspection. After the race, WINNING SPEED was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, WINNING SPEED will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of I’M NO SQUARE after the race did not show any significant findings. MY LUCK and OPERATION SECRET were sent for sampling.