Racing Incident Report

SUPER DOBBIN shifted in at the start and bumped TORONADO PHANTOM. After this, TORONADO PHANTOM was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover.
From a wide barrier, ANGELS HUNTER was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages.
HARMONY N HOME lost its right front plate in the early stages.
Approaching the 1100 Metres, TORONADO PHANTOM shifted in and bumped ANGELS HUNTER.
SMART IDEA made the turn near the 1000 Metres very awkwardly, got its head up and shifted out towards the heels of SUPER DOBBIN which at this time was racing tight inside STAR BRITE. This resulted in SMART IDEA losing ground.
Passing the 800 Metres, SUPER DOBBIN was awkwardly placed inside the heels of STAR BRITE which shifted in.
Rounding the Home Turn, SUPER DOBBIN raced tight outside SMART IDEA which shifted out.
Near the 125 Metres, ANGELS HUNTER became badly unbalanced after shifting out and being bumped on the hindquarters by ATULLIBIGEAL which at the same time was shifting to the inside of SMART IDEA.
When questioned, C Y Ho stated that he was instructed to ride ATULLIBIGEAL, which was having its first race start in Hong Kong today, where it was comfortable in the early stages. He said it was explained to him that ATULLIBIGEAL is a horse that had travelled keenly and he was asked not to be aggressive on the horse in the early stages to ensure that ATULLIBIGEAL was able to settle and finish the race off. He said on jumping ATULLIBIGEAL was crowded for room between PRANCE DRAGON and STOICISM which shifted in which resulted in ATULLIBIGEAL losing ground. He said as he was told not to ride his mount along in the early stages, he balanced ATULLIBIGEAL up rather than riding the horse along to make up lost ground which resulted in ANGELS HUNTER and TORONADO PHANTOM being able to obtain positions in front of ATULLIBIGEAL. He said making the first turn near the 1000 Metres ATULLIBIGEAL was able to improve its position to be racing behind TORONADO PHANTOM. He said passing the 800 Metres he shifted ATULLIBIGEAL in to race on the rail behind ANGELS HUNTER and the horse travelled well when racing behind ANGELS HUNTER and inside TORONADO PHANTOM. He added that near the 500 Metres he shifted ATULLIBIGEAL away from behind ANGELS HUNTER to be racing behind HARMONY N HOME as TORONADO PHANTOM commenced to improve its position around HARMONY N HOME. He said he elected not to shift out to follow TORONADO PHANTOM when that horse continued to improve its position passing the 450 Metres to avoid being taken wider rounding the Home Turn as runners fanned and given that he had had some success earlier in the day when obtaining inside runs. He therefore elected to improve his position between HARMONY N HOME and ANGELS HUNTER rounding the Home Turn. He said he placed ATULLIBIGEAL under pressure in the early part of the Straight and the horse responded satisfactorily. He added after the 200 Metres he improved to be racing to the inside of SUPER DOBBIN and behind SMART IDEA and as a run was available to the inside of SMART IDEA and outside ANGELS HUNTER, he shifted his mount to the inside of SMART IDEA passing the 150 Metres to improve into this run. He said as he did this, ANGELS HUNTER shifted out which resulted in ATULLIBIGEAL making heavy contact with the hindquarters of ANGELS HUNTER and having to be checked when disappointed for running between that horse and SMART IDEA. He said after this he shifted ATULLIBIGEAL to the outside of SMART IDEA and ATULLIBIGEAL was able to obtain clear running over the concluding stages. Mr D J Hall, the trainer of ATULLIBIGEAL, stated that ATULLIBIGEAL is a horse that has been difficult to manage since commencing training with him. He said at its first barrier trial in Hong Kong the horse over-raced and weakened badly and since that time he has gone to great lengths to ensure that ATULLIBIGEAL settles better so as to be able to finish off. He said because of the manner in which ATULLIBIGEAL had proven difficult to settle, he had not added blinkers to the horse’s gear which it had raced in overseas. He said at its last trial the horse travelled comfortably when ridden quietly in the early stages and then finished the trial off strongly. He said he therefore instructed C Y Ho to have the horse racing where it was comfortable and not to ride the horse along in the early stages as he did not want it over-racing. He said he had hoped that from barrier 5 ATULLIBIGEAL would be able to obtain a midfield position without having to be made use of. He said he also instructed Jockey Ho to "give the horse room” in the Straight which meant that he wished for the horse to have clear running over the latter stages to finish the race off. He said that he was satisfied with Jockey Ho’s decision not to ride ATULLIBIGEAL along in the early stages after being interfered at the start, however, he was disappointed that Jockey Ho did not shift ATULLIBIGEAL out approaching the 400 Metres to follow TORONADO PHANTOM forward as that horse was favourite for today’s race and would be a horse that would take him into the race. He added that because of this decision ATULLIBIGEAL was required to improve between runners in the Straight rather than obtaining clear running which resulted in the horse being badly hampered approaching the 100 Metres. C Y Ho was told that the Stewards did not take exception to his riding of ATULLIBIGEAL in the early and middle stages however, his riding of the horse after the 450 Metres had come under notice. He was further told that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he should have shifted ATULLIBIGEAL out to follow TORONADO PHANTOM with a view to shifting to that horse’s outside at the entrance to the Straight to obtain clear running which would have complied with his instructions and would have provided ATULLIBIGEAL with the best opportunity for clear and uninterrupted running. C Y Ho was severely reprimanded and told to ensure that he rides his mounts in such a manner as to comply with his instructions wherever possible and to provide horses with the best opportunity to finish the race off as best as they are able.
A veterinary inspection of SUPER DOBBIN and SMART IDEA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.
TORONADO PHANTOM and PRANCE DRAGON were sent for sampling.
<9/2/2022 6 February 2022 Happy Valley Racemeeting – Race 7 (402)> The Stewards tonight questioned H Bentley regarding his riding of HARMONY N HOME after the 500 Metres. H Bentley stated that at that time he was following SUPER DOBBIN and it was his intention to shift to that horse’s outside rounding the Home Turn to obtain clear running. He said approaching the 400 Metres he became aware that TORONADO PHANTOM was commencing to improve its position around HARMONY N HOME and he made an effort to shift HARMONY N HOME to the outside of SUPER DOBBIN at this time. He said however that TORONADO PHANTOM was travelling strongly and had momentum which resulted in TORONADO PHANTOM improving quickly around HARMONY N HOME, causing HARMONY N HOME to have to remain racing behind SUPER DOBBIN until TORONADO PHANTOM cleared HARMONY N HOME which was prior to the 300 Metres. He said at this time he immediately shifted HARMONY N HOME out and the horse then finished the race off well. H Bentley conceded that he had erred in not being aware that TORONADO PHANTOM was improving its position earlier than it did which would have allowed him the opportunity to shift to the outside of SUPER DOBBIN and not allow TORONADO PHANTOM to improve around his mount at this time. H Bentley was told to ensure that he rides his mounts in such a manner as to avail them with the best opportunity to finish the race off as best as they are able and that he obtains more advantageous positions on his mounts wherever appropriate circumstances exist.