16/11/2008  Shatin  Race 9

W C Marwing, retained rider for the stable of Trainer P F Yiu, was fined $2,000 for accepting the ride of CALIFORNIAMOUNTAIN, trained by Mr A S Cruz, when he was not eligible to do so. S K Sit was substituted as the rider of CALIFORNIAMOUNTAIN. THUMBS UP was slow to begin. GEM OF CHIU TON was steadied shortly after the start when awkwardly placed between CALIFORNIAMOUNTAIN and LU YUE which when being ridden along was carried in slightly by BEST FRIEND. At the 1400 Metres, FEARLESS and OPERATION SECRET were steadied away from the heels of KINGS FALCON which shifted in when barely clear. At the same time, CALIFORNIAMOUNTAIN after being bumped by OPERATION SECRET was steadied away from the heels of LU YUE which was carried in by BLESSING which shifted in when barely clear. At the 750 Metres, NEVER LOOK BACK was steadied when awkwardly placed inside the heels of THUMBS UP. At the 700 Metres, NEVER LOOK BACK was checked when crowded for room inside THUMBS UP which got its head on the side and momentarily shifted in away from CALIFORNIAMOUNTAIN. In the circumstances, no action was taken. GEM OF CHIU TON, which was following, was hampered and shifted out which in turn caused BEST FRIEND to be hampered and carried wider. At the 350 Metres, FEARLESS, which was held up and unable to obtain clear running, was checked and shifted out away from the heels of LU YUE. S K Sit said he had been instructed to ride CALIFORNIAMOUNTAIN in a midfield position with cover if possible. He said Mr W P Hung, assistant trainer to Mr A S Cruz, trainer of CALIFORNIAMOUNTAIN, confirmed the riding instructions issued to S K Sit. Mr Hung said Mr Cruz, who was not present at today’s racemeeting, had been concerned when leading in its recent races at Sha Tin CALIFORNIAMOUNTAIN had been somewhat disappointing in the manner in which it had finished off. He said therefore it was intended to have CALIFORNIAMOUNTAIN ridden with cover and shifted into clear running at the 400 Metres. S K Sit said when ridden in this manner CALIFORNIAMOUNTAIN kept on one-paced in the Straight. The Stewards will confirm the intention of the riding instructions issued to S K Sit with Mr Cruz following his return to Hong Kong. When questioned, O Doleuze (VIGOR DELIGHT), which was having its first start in Hong Kong, explained from a wide barrier he had been instructed to ride the horse in a rearward position with cover. He said in accordance with those instructions he took VIGOR DELIGHT across behind runners in the early stages, the horse over-raced and did not relax for him. He said on straightening he shifted VIGOR DELIGHT wider on the track and commenced to ride his mount along. He said VIGOR DELIGHT responded only fairly initially and he therefore continued to travel behind GEM OF CHIU TON and BEST FRIEND as he felt those horses would carry him further forward into the race. He said at the 300 Metres he shifted VIGOR DELIGHT to the outside of BEST FRIEND and continued to ride his mount out vigorously hands and heels in the run to the line whilst slapping it down the shoulder with his whip. He said VIGOR DELIGHT continued to make some ground in the run to the line, then prior to the winning post BEST FRIEND shifted out, as a consequence he was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse and could not ride his mount out to the end of the race. Mr C Fownes, trainer of VIGOR DELIGHT, confirmed the riding instructions issued to O Doleuze and said the horse was well fancied by the stable, however, he was mindful that it was having its first race start in Hong Kong and over 1600 Metres. He said VIGOR DELIGHT had trialed well leading into the race and its work had also been good. He said he was concerned if VIGOR DELIGHT were ridden to go forward from its wide barrier, it would be left racing wide which he did not believe would be in the horse’s best interest racing first up over this distance. He did say had VIGOR DELIGHT drawn more favourably, the intention would have been to have the horse ridden about midfield. O Doleuze was told his riding of VIGOR DELIGHT had come under notice, particularly his riding in the Home Straight, and that he should ensure he rides all his mounts in a manner which is not open to query. Mr Fownes was told his explanation would be reported and was reminded of his responsibility when issuing instructions to riders of horses trained by him that they are to ride them in a manner where circumstances permit which will not be open to query. GEM OF CHIU TON and VIGOR DELIGHT were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of GEM OF CHIU TON and VIGOR DELIGHT after the race did not show any significant findings. BEST FRIEND, THUMBS UP and KINGS FALCON were sent for sampling.