14/01/2009  Happy Valley  Race 8

BLUE SKY was slow to begin. After entering the Back Straight, NILOMETER travelled wide and without cover. Near the 1300 Metres, PACIFICO, which was inclined to hang out, was steadied when crowded for room inside SOLAR POWER which was carried in by NILOMETER (C W Wong) which initially shifted in before being shifted out to relieve the pressure it was applying to runners on his inside. In the circumstances, C W Wong was reprimanded and told to exercise greater care. At the 900 Metres, THREE CLUBS, NILOMETER and SOLAR POWER were carried wider by BEAUTIFUL CHOICE which throughout the race had been proving difficult to settle and at this time shifted out when being checked away from the heels of HIGH INTELLIGENT. At the 800 Metres, SOLAR POWER was checked away from the heels of BEAUTIFUL CHOICE which was continuing to over-race and shifted out. When the tempo of the race steadied after the 800 Metres, a number of runners commenced to over-race, the worst sufferers being PACIFICO, CHATER SILK and SOLAR POWER. K L Chui (THREE CLUBS) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 700 Metres he shifted his mount in when not clear of BLUE SKY, causing that horse to lose its rightful running and be checked. K L Chui was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday 29 January 2009 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 next Sunday 18 January 2009. In addition, K L Chui was fined $10,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 1 further raceday. At the 150 Metres, SOLAR POWER was checked when disappointed for running between UNIQUE SPEED which shifted in and CHATER SILK which when closing the race off improved close to the heels of BILLION and then shifted out slightly. No action was taken. For the major part of the race, THREE CLUBS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, D Whyte (WARM EMBRACES) said throughout the race he had followed PACIFICO and he noted that horse had been inclined to hang out. He said because of this on entering the Home Straight he remained racing towards the inside as he believed clear running would present itself. He said after entering the Home Straight PACIFICO then shifted in to race on the rail and as a consequence WARM EMBRACES was held up and unable to improve until after the 100 Metres. He said as he commenced to ride his mount along to improve on the outside of PACIFICO at that point of the race, it appeared to him that PACIFICO again commenced to shift out and because of this he did not ride his mount out to the end of the race as he normally would. D Whyte was severely reprimanded for his riding of WARM EMBRACES over the concluding stages and told in similar circumstances he would be expected to avail himself of clear running when available. When questioned regarding the poor performance of BILLION, Y T Cheng said in his opinion he was required to make too much use of his horse in the early stages to obtain the lead as instructed. He said BILLION crossed to race on the rail in the lead near the 1200 Metres and he then commenced to steady his mount and endeavoured to run the race at a tempo to suit. He said as a consequence of the work BILLION did in the early stages, the horse failed to finish the race off. BILLION was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. BEAUTIFUL CHOICE was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of BILLION and BEAUTIFUL CHOICE after the race did not show any significant findings. BLUE SKY and SUPER GENKI were sent for sampling.