After being boxed, BELONG TO CASA became fractious and reared on several occasions. Before being allowed to race again, BELONG TO CASA will have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. STAREILLY began awkwardly and lost ground. BOOMING CITY was slow to begin. A Delpech (LIFELINE PEGASUS) was found guilty of two charges of careless riding [Rule 100(1)]. The first charge being that near the 900 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of STAREILLY, causing that horse to lose its rightful running and be checked. A Delpech was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday 31 January 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 next Wednesday 23 January 2008. In addition, A Delpech was fined $20,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating one further raceday. The second charge being that near the 300 Metres he failed to make sufficient effort to prevent his mount which was hanging in from shifting in when not clear of SHANGDONG GENERAL, causing that horse to lose its rightful running and be checked. A Delpech was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday 31 January 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 next Wednesday 23 January 2008. In addition, A Delpech was fined $20,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating one further raceday. These two periods of suspensions are to be served concurrently. Making the turn at the 800 Metres, BOOMING CITY was checked when crowded for room between WIN-A-LOT and STAREILLY which after being interfered with shifted out. No action was taken. After the 800 Metres, LIFELINE PEGASUS proved difficult to settle. STAREILLY and WIN-A-LOT, which were following, were inconvenienced in consequence. Near the 600 Metres, BOOMING CITY was checked away from the heels of STAREILLY and WIN-A-LOT which continued to be awkwardly placed behind LIFELINE PEGASUS. Also near the 600 Metres, ONE WORLD was inconvenienced outside the heels of MY HOME TOWN which at this time was steadied away from the heels of DOUBLE LUCK which shifted in slightly. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the opinion an incident had occurred on the Home Turn which cast doubt on whether MY HOME TOWN ought be declared the winner of the race. D Beadman, the rider of ONE WORLD, 2nd placegetter, also lodged a protest/objection against MY HOME TOWN (D Whyte) being declared the winner alleging interference on the Home Turn. The evidence disclosed that after the 500 Metres ONE WORLD was checked when crowded for room between STAREILLY and MY HOME TOWN which at this time shifted out when not clear. The Stewards formed the opinion that had the interference which did take place not occurred, bearing in mind the short head margin and the manner in which both horses finished the race, that ONE WORLD would have finished in front of MY HOME TOWN, therefore the protest/objection was sustained and accordingly MY HOME TOWN was placed immediately behind ONE WORLD. Weighed in was declared on the amended placings which became No. 1 ONE WORLD, 1st; No. 7 MY HOME TOWN, 2nd; No. 8 SOLAR ENERGY, 3rd; and No. 5 DOUBLE LUCK, 4th. At a subsequent inquiry, D Whyte was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that making the Home Turn he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of ONE WORLD, causing that horse to lose its rightful running and be checked. D Whyte was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Sunday 3 February 2008 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). This suspension is to commence on Monday 28 January 2008 on which day D Whyte was eligible to resume race riding from a previous suspension. In addition, D Whyte was fined $80,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating two further racedays. Making the Home Turn, STAREILLY and LIFELINE PEGASUS hung out. Close to the line, DOUBLE LUCK was steadied when awkwardly placed between MY HOME TOWN and SOLAR ENERGY (S K Sit) which shifted in while being ridden out. S K Sit was severely reprimanded and told in similar circumstances he would be expected to stop riding and straighten his mount. Because of this incident, DOUBLE LUCK was not ridden out to the end of the race as it normally would be. When questioned regarding his riding passing the 600 Metres, C Soumillon (DOUBLE LUCK) said at this time he was aware LIFELINE PEGASUS had commenced to improve its position around his outside and that horse appeared to be travelling keenly. He said as there was clear running on the inside of SHANGDONG GENERAL, he elected to shift to the inside of that horse rather than to shift to its outside into a three wide position. He said he felt because of the manner in which the race had been run, this would enable him an opportunity to improve inside SHANGDONG GENERAL to follow WHISKY POWER which he believed would quicken and carry him forward after straightening. He said after entering the Home Straight he immediately commenced to ride DOUBLE LUCK along, however, WHISKY POWER did not quicken as he had anticipated and as a consequence he was held up and unable to obtain clear running from the 400 Metres until the 250 Metres. He said he then commenced to ride DOUBLE LUCK along, the horse responded well to his riding, however, close to the line SOLAR ENERGY which had been finishing the race off on his outside shifted in, caused him to be again crowded for room and as a result he was not able to ride his horse out to the end of the race. C Soumillon was told in the opinion of the Stewards he had erred by shifting to the inside of SHANGDONG GENERAL after the 600 Metres and the ride was not one of his better ones and he should always do his utmost to ensure his mounts are provided with clear running. BOOMING CITY was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of BOOMING CITY after the race did not show any significant findings. ONE WORLD and MY HOME TOWN were sent for sampling. |