19/11/2008  Happy Valley  Race 1

At declaration time, K L Chui was declared as the rider of both MAINLAND MASTER and SUPER RED. It was established that K L Chui had a firm commitment to ride SUPER RED. As such, the Stewards permitted Y T Cheng to be substituted as the rider of MAINLAND MASTER. For this declaration error, K L Chui was fined $2,000. NEWSWIRE TOO and KING CREOLE were slow into stride. At the 850 Metres, SO NICE and NEWSWIRE TOO, which were ridden along to improve their positions, were crowded for room inside MAINLAND MASTER which got its head on the side and shifted in slightly. No action was taken. After this, MAINLAND MASTER continued to hang in. In the early stages, MR FLOODLIGHT was allowed to drift back and then shifted across behind runners. Also in the early stages, HAPPY SUNDAY was ridden along to go forward, then after the 800 Metres when racing wide was steadied in an attempt to obtain cover. However, HAPPY SUNDAY was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the turn at the 600 Metres, GANBARIA was steadied when awkwardly placed inside the heels of MAINLAND MASTER which was continuing to hang in. Also approaching the turn at the 600 Metres, SUPER RED was tightened for room inside MASTER YING which got its head on the side and hung in away from KING'S CHOICE. C W Wong (PERFECT ATHLETE) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that commencing to make the turn at the 600 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of KING'S CHOICE, causing that horse to be steadied and shift in which in turn caused crowding on its inside to MASTER YING which had been hanging in and then shifted in further, causing SUPER RED to be carried in across the rightful running of GANBARIA which as a result was checked. In this incident, MASTER YING and SUPER RED were severely hampered and NEWSWIRE TOO and SO NICE which were following were steadied in consequence. C W Wong was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday 11 December 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 3 December 2008. Making the turn at the 500 Metres, SO NICE hung out. On straightening, SUPER RED and MASTER YING bumped. After the 250 Metres, KING CREOLE, which was commencing to close the race off strongly, was checked when having difficulty obtaining clear running between GANBARIA and MASTER YING. At the 200 Metres, GANBARIA was steadied when crowded for room between SO NICE and KING CREOLE which shifted out slightly when improving into clear running. At the 100 Metres, NEWSWIRE TOO was steadied when disappointed for running between MAINLAND MASTER and MR FLOODLIGHT. GANBARIA and HAPPY SUNDAY were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of GANBARIA and HAPPY SUNDAY after the race did not show any significant findings. MUTUAL GAIN and MR FLOODLIGHT were sent for sampling.