Racing Incident Report

Apprentice K H Chan (MONICA) was fined $2,000 for presenting himself to weigh out for this race in the incorrect colours.
BRAVE COMMAND and EZRA began only fairly.
MONICA shifted in at the start and hampered WICKER and SUPREME PLUS. Then when being ridden along, MONICA continued to shift in, resulting in WICKER becoming unbalanced when crowded onto SUPREME PLUS which also became unbalanced after being bumped by WICKER. Apprentice Chan was severely reprimanded and told that in future he would be expected to stop riding and straighten his mounts so as not to cause further interference.
From wide barriers, MASTER ALBERT, SKY GEM and MCQUEEN were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.
Approaching the 1100 Metres, MONICA, when being steadied to avoid the heels of FORTUNE HAPPINESS, got its head up and shifted in away from that horse and made contact with SUPREME PLUS. After this, MONICA was left racing wide and without cover.
In the early part of the Straight, DESTIN was awkwardly placed between SUPREME PLUS and FORTUNE HAPPINESS which was shifting to the outside of EPTIMUM to obtain clear running. This resulted in DESTIN being held up for clear running until approaching the 300 Metres.
Passing the 350 Metres, FLYING NOBLE got its head on the side and lay in behind MONICA.
BRAVE COMMAND lay out passing the 300 Metres.
Close to the finishing line, DESTIN lay out under pressure.
After the race, C Y Ho (FORTUNE HAPPINESS) reported that the horse hung in, particularly in the Straight, and proved difficult to ride.
When questioned, T H So stated that, stepping up to 1400 Metres, he was instructed to ride EPTIMUM positively and attempt to lead. He said the horse had been successful in its overseas races prior to being imported to Hong Kong when leading and, from the horse’s wide barrier, it was believed today provided the opportunity for the horse to go forward and see if it could perform well when similarly ridden in a forward position. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode his mount vigorously in the early stages to obtain a forward position and was content to race outside FORTUNE HAPPINESS after the 1000 Metres. He said however that EPTIMUM was travelling strongly and when it appeared as though the rider of FORTUNE HAPPINESS was steadying his mount, he therefore elected to allow EPTIMUM to continue into the outright lead passing the 800 Metres.
When questioned, R Bayliss stated that he was instructed to ride EZRA where it was comfortable depending on how the horse began. He also stated that as the horse was held up for clear running at its last start, he was asked to ensure that it remained racing away from the rail if possible and to make his run down the outside as the connections of the horse had been disappointed that the horse had been held up for clear running in the Straight at its last start. He said he had trialed EZRA in the lead up to today’s race and also formed the view that the horse was hesitant to race when in amongst runners and therefore he agreed that the best opportunity for EZRA to finish off the race would be to make its run to the outside of the field. He said with the blinkers applied for the first time today, EZRA began only fairly and then did not show any early speed and was quickly crossed by WIN WIN. He said after shifting across behind runners in the early stages, he was taken in by MASTER ALBERT after the 1300 Metres and then by SKY GEM after passing the 1200 Metres. He said given his instructions not to be caught on the rail if possible, he was reluctant to press his mount to maintain its position inside SKY GEM as he did not want EZRA to be positioned in midfield amongst runners which would make it difficult to shift out. He said he therefore allowed SKY GEM to improve forward of EZRA and shifted out behind that horse near the 1100 Metres. He added approaching the 1000 Metres EZRA was racing inside the heels of MCQUEEN and when that horse shifted in, this resulted in EZRA having to race closer to the inside rail then had had planned. He said near the 750 Metres SKY GEM was being ridden along to maintain its position, he therefore steadied EZRA to shift out from behind MCQUEEN near the 650 Metres and immediately commenced to ride his mount along to follow MASTER ALBERT rounding the Home Turn. He said after entering the Straight he shifted EZRA to the outside of MASTER ALBERT and the horse then finished off the race well, however, due to the circumstances of the race EZRA got out of its ground. Mr A T Millard, the trainer of EZRA, informed the Stewards that he had asked Jockey Bayliss to ensure that the horse began as well as possible given it had not begun well at each of its race starts. He also confirmed that the connections had insisted that Jockey Bayliss remained racing away from the rail in an endeavour to ensure that the horse was able to obtain clear running which it was not able to do for some distance in the Straight at its last start. He said after EZRA was again slow to begin, he was disappointed that Jockey Bayliss did not ride his mount along in the early stages to be in a more forward position in order to overcome it losing ground on jumping. Jockey Bayliss reiterated that he was mindful to ensure that EZRA was not forced to race close to the rail and whilst it was available for him to improve inside SKY GEM and possibly WIN WIN in the early stages, he believed that this would have resulted in him having to race in about a midfield position but close to the rail. He said he believed that this would have been detrimental to him being able to fulfil his instructions to make his run to the outside of runners. Jockey Bayliss was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, he was told that, wherever possible, he must ensure that his mounts are not left with too much to do in their races.
When questioned, K Teetan stated that, from an inside barrier, he was able to obtain a forward position on SUPREME PLUS in the early stages without having to ride his mount along. He said making the first turn he had cover behind EPTIMUM which was racing to the outside of FORTUNE HAPPINESS. He said at this time he was racing to the inside of MONICA and his mount was inclined to travel keenly as a result of having another runner positioned to its outside. He said after the 800 Metres EPTIMUM improved its position forward of FORTUNE HAPPINESS into the lead. He said he was reluctant to allow MONICA to improve its position around SUPREME PLUS to obtain cover behind that horse as the race was progressing to the 700 Metres and he believed it would not be in the horse’s best interests to allow MONICA to cross SUPREME PLUS. He added although MONICA continued to race to the outside of SUPREME PLUS, his mount relaxed better in the middle stages than it did earlier in the race and SUPREME PLUS was travelling well approaching the 500 Metres. He said he placed his mount under pressure rounding the Home Turn and SUPREME PLUS immediately came under heavy pressure and then despite being ridden along gave ground abruptly in the early part of the Straight. He said based on the manner in which SUPREME PLUS gave ground, he was concerned that it may have bled and for this reason he had a number of looks down the horse to establish whether it had any issues. He said after the race SUPREME PLUS trotted back to the unplaced saddling area sound and he was therefore unable to offer any explanation for the horse’s disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of SUPREME PLUS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of SUPREME PLUS, which finished at the tail of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SUPREME PLUS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.
WIN WIN and DESTIN were sent for sampling.