01/01/2009  Shatin  Race 10

IMPERIAL APPLAUSE was withdrawn on 31.12.08 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, IMPERIAL APPLAUSE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. KING ENCOSTA bounded in the air at the start, then lost further ground when crowded for room inside REGENCY DRAGON which on jumping shifted in abruptly. After the 1100 Metres, KING ENCOSTA, which had been ridden along to make up ground, was steadied when crowded for room inside MASTER POWER which when proving difficult to settle shifted in abruptly away from the heels of JOYFUL WINNER. In the early and middle stages, BRILLIANT CHAPTER travelled wide and without cover. At the 900 Metres, FELLOWSHIP was crowded for room inside BRILLIANT CHAPTER which endeavoured to shift in. As D Whyte, the rider of BRILLIANT CHAPTER, had relieved the pressure he was applying to FELLOWSHIP, no action was taken. MASTER POWER made the turn at the 800 Metres awkwardly, got its head up, shifted out and was steadied away from the heels of JOYFUL WINNER whilst racing tight inside that runner. Over about the final 100 Metres, MASTER POWER, which had been closing the race off, did not obtain clear running and therefore was not fully tested. O Doleuze (GALLANT LION) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that in the run to the winning post he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of BULLISH CASH, causing BULLISH CASH to be carried in and in turn caused crowding on its inside to FELLOWSHIP which as a result was unnecessarily crowded for room and lost the running to which it was rightfully entitled. O Doleuze was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday 15 January 2009 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 7 January 2009. In the Straight, JOY AND FUN hung in. When questioned, Y T Cheng (NEVER LOOK BACK) said he had been instructed to ride the horse in 4th or 5th position if possible. He said NEVER LOOK BACK began best and immediately travelled into the bridle. He said in the early stages he endeavoured to allow runners to the inside to improve their positions to enable him to obtain a position with cover, however, NEVER LOOK BACK continued to race keenly and he therefore elected to allow his mount to travel forward and race outside the lead. BRILLIANT CHAPTER, JOY AND FUN and SUNNY KING were sent for sampling.