28/05/2008  Happy Valley  Race 7

From wide barriers, NOBLE MAN, DEFERENTIAL and YUE LU TREASURE were taken back. At the 700 Metres, BEAUTIFUL DREAMER was left racing wide and without cover. In the early part of the Straight, ELEGANT WIN had difficulty obtaining clear running. M Nunes (ELEGANT WIN) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 200 Metres he shifted his mount out when not clear of SILVER SUN, causing that horse to lose its rightful running and be checked. M Nunes was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday 16 June 2008 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday 8 June 2008. In addition, M Nunes was fined $15,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 1 further raceday. B Prebble (SILVER SUN) said his mount sweated up more noticeably tonight behind the barriers than it did on the last occasion he rode it. He said SILVER SUN began fairly, he obtained a midfield position, however, his mount over-raced and as a consequence when placed under pressure after straightening did not respond to his riding. When questioned regarding the performance of DEFERENTIAL, O Doleuze said from a wide barrier it had been decided to ride the horse quietly. He said DEFERENTIAL travelled satisfactorily in the run, making the Home Turn he shifted to the inside of YUE LU TREASURE and COUNTRY MUSIC as those horses were not travelling well and for him to improve to their outside would have resulted in him covering additional ground. He said in the early part of the Straight he shifted DEFERENTIAL out to obtain clear running, then when placed under pressure the horse responded fairly to his riding. He said the manner in which the race was run tonight made it difficult for horses which travelled back in the field. He said from a more favourable barrier in his opinion DEFERENTIAL would be better suited ridden further forward than it was tonight. COUNTRY MUSIC, SILVER SUN and DEFERENTIAL were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of COUNTRY MUSIC, SILVER SUN and DEFERENTIAL after the race did not show any significant findings. HONGKONG SUPERSTAR, CANNONISE and ELEGANT WIN were sent for sampling. After the race, it was reported CANNONISE had lost its left front plate.