24/03/2008  Shatin  Race 6

At about 10:30 am today, Mr S F Wong, assistant trainer to Mr P F Yiu, trainer of RELY ON ME, contacted Dr B D Stewart, Head of Veterinary Regulation & International Liaison. Mr Wong advised that a check of the stable’s medication records for runners engaged for today’s racemeeting showed RELY ON ME had been administered Sustanon by the stable’s Clinical Veterinary Surgeon on 6 March 2008. The active ingredient of Sustanon is testosterone. Dr Stewart contacted the Stewards at about 10:35 am and informed them of Mr Wong’s advice. He said testosterone is defined in the Rules of Racing as a prohibited substance with threshold levels. Dr Stewart further advised a check of the Veterinary Management Information System confirmed RELY ON ME had been administered 1 ml of Sustanon on 6 March 2008. The Stewards contacted Mr D K K Leung, Racing Chemist (Operations), to ascertain whether testosterone was included in the screening of pre-race samples for today’s racemeeting. Mr Leung advised the Stewards the screening for testosterone was not included for analysis of pre-race samples conducted for today’s racemeeting. It should be noted that due to time constraints screening of pre-race samples is confined to a limited number of prohibited substances. The prohibited substances tested for in pre-race screening for racemeetings are changed regularly. The Stewards then directed Mr Leung to analyse the pre-race sample provided by RELY ON ME for the presence of testosterone. Following the running of Race 3, Dr T S M Wan, Head of Racing Laboratory, informed the Stewards that the pre-race sample obtained from RELY ON ME had upon this further analysis showed the presence of testosterone above the allowable threshold of 0.02 micrograms per millilitre. As Mr Yiu was absent from Hong Kong for the purpose of attending an overseas yearling sale, the Stewards advised Mr Wong of the analyst’s finding. Acting on Dr Wan’s report, RELY ON ME was withdrawn by order of the Stewards [Rule 12(13)] who directed a further sample be taken from the horse under post-race conditions for analysis. This inquiry is now adjourned pending the results of the analysis of the further sample and also the return of Mr Yiu to Hong Kong. NIGHT HUNTER III was slow to begin. From the outside barrier, FIRST KNIGHT was taken across behind runners. Near the 1300 Metres, SEAKING TREASURE became unbalanced when bumped by AMAZING JOURNEY. D Whyte (UNIQUE JEWELLERY) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that shortly after the start he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of PERFECT TREASURE, causing that horse to lose its rightful running and be checked. In the circumstances of this case and having in mind Jockey Whyte’s record in relation to careless riding during the current season, the Stewards believed the appropriate penalty was for his licence to ride in races to be suspended for a period to expire on Monday 21 April 2008 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday 6 April 2008. In addition, D Whyte was fined $80,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating two further racedays. From on straightening until the 200 Metres, NIGHT HUNTER III was held up and unable to obtain clear running between FIRST KNIGHT and KING’S COURT. Approaching the 200 Metres, NIGHT HUNTER III was steadied and shifted in when disappointed for running between KING’S COURT which shifted out slightly and FIRST KNIGHT which shifted in away from the heels of LE ROSSIGNOL which was giving ground. After the 200 Metres, FIRST KNIGHT was checked to avoid the heels of LE ROSSIGNOL which continued to give ground, then for a short distance was held up and unable to obtain clear running. Approaching the winning post, KING’S COURT was steadied when awkwardly placed inside the heels of CRYSTAL and tight outside NIGHT HUNTER III which improved quickly to its inside. In this incident, NIGHT HUNTER III became unbalanced after making contact with KING’S COURT. Just prior to the winning post, NIGHT HUNTER III was struck over the nose by the whip of W M Lai (CRYSTAL). H W Lai (SEAKING TREASURE) said his mount was slow to muster speed today and because of the fast tempo of the early stages he was not able to lead as instructed. He said in the Straight SEAKING TREASURE stayed on fairly. He said in his opinion the horse’s performance was satisfactory as he considered today’s race to be stronger than when the horse was successful at its most recent start. B Prebble (AMAZING JOURNEY) said at no stage of the race did the horse’s action feel as he thought it should. He said AMAZING JOURNEY did not appear to him to be striding out freely and in the middle stages hung out. He said making the Home Turn AMAZING JOURNEY commenced to hang out badly and shifted wider on the track, then when under pressure in the Straight gave ground. He said throughout the race AMAZING JOURNEY changed legs on a number of occasions. AMAZING JOURNEY was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of AMAZING JOURNEY after the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, AMAZING JOURNEY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. G Boss (A MIRROR), a last start winner, explained because of the fast tempo of the early stages of today’s race, he was required to make use of his horse from a wide barrier to travel in a forward position as instructed. He said when A MIRROR was left racing wide and without cover approaching the first turn, he elected to steady his mount and shift across behind runners in a forward position. He said A MIRROR travelled only fairly in the middle stages and in the Straight did not respond to his riding. He said in his opinion the use he was required to make of A MIRROR would have contributed to the horse’s poor performance. A MIRROR was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of A MIRROR after the race did not show any significant findings. In the circumstances, the Stewards believed the performance of A MIRROR to be unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, A MIRROR will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. UNIQUE JEWELLERY and OPERA MAGIC were sent for sampling.