Racing Incident Report

ROMANTIC CHEF was withdrawn on 16.3.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter WINNING CONTROLLER. Before being allowed to race again, ROMANTIC CHEF will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.
MANAGEMENT STAR was very slow to begin. Before being allowed to race again, MANAGEMENT STAR will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test.
CIRCUIT THREE was slow to begin.
DELIGHT EXPRESS began only fairly.
SOCCER MASTER lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and consequently began only fairly.
HEALTHY TREASURE began awkwardly.
SPLENDOUR AND GOLD was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover.
For some distance in the early stages, DASHING DART got its head up when racing keenly.
The Stewards opened and immediately adjourned an inquiry into the reason for DELIGHT EXPRESS stumbling badly approaching the 900 Metres which resulted in its rider, Apprentice C Wong, being dislodged. When Apprentice Wong was dislodged, SOCCER MASTER was unable to avoid that rider and was severely checked. CIRCUIT THREE was also checked and shifted out to avoid the incident whilst SPLENDOUR AND GOLD was inconvenienced. A veterinary inspection of DELIGHT EXPRESS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SOCCER MASTER immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained slight abrasions to the right hind cannon and the left hind fetlock.
Rounding the Home Turn, SPLENDOUR AND GOLD was taken wider by DASHING DART which shifted to the outside of FLASH FAMOUS.
Throughout the race, CHAPARRAL STAR travelled wide and without cover.
The performance of HEALTHY TREASURE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HEALTHY TREASURE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.
The Stewards opened an inquiry into W M Lai’s riding of WINNING CONTROLLER, particularly from near the 1100 Metres. W M Lai stated that he was instructed to obtain a forward position on WINNING CONTROLLER as it was believed that there was not much pace in the race. He said he was instructed to lead if possible, however, if the rider of another horse was intent on leading, he should allow that horse to lead and obtain a position in 2nd or 3rd. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode WINNING CONTROLLER positively in the early stages, however, COOLCELEB showed more early speed than WINNING CONTROLLER and he followed that horse over and positioned himself to the outside of that horse after the 1000 Metres. He said from this point he raced about a half length behind COOLCELEB. He said after the 900 Metres he allowed WINNING CONTROLLER to improve its position to be racing on terms with COOLCELEB and when that horse came under pressure passing the 600 Metres, he then allowed WINNING CONTROLLER to improve its position further in advance of COOLCELEB. Mr C H Yip, the trainer of WINNING CONTROLLER, stated that he was unable to identify a natural leader in the race and he felt that there was an opportunity for WINNING CONTROLLER to be able to take up a forward position as the horse had previously raced well in these circumstances. He confirmed that he had instructed Jockey Lai to attempt to lead on WINNING CONTROLLER, however, if another horse showed more speed than WINNING CONTROLLER, he should take a sit off that horse. He said he felt that WINNING CONTROLLER would race well today as he anticipated that the horse would be able to take up a forward position in what he expected to be only a moderately run race. He said accordingly he advised the owner that he considered the horse to be a good chance of winning or placing in today’s race. Having regard to the fast sectionals between the 1200 Metres and the 400 Metres, the Stewards adjourned the inquiry until a time and date to be fixed to allow them to consider the evidence.
R Bayliss (COOLCELEB) stated that in the early stages COOLCELEB was able to dictate the terms of the race and the race was being run at a reasonable tempo. He said however that when WINNING CONTROLLER improved its position to race on terms with COOLCELEB near the 900 Metres, the tempo of the race quickened appreciably as COOLCELEB travelled more keenly in the lead due to WINNING CONTROLLER improving its position. He said these circumstances resulted in the race being run at a very fast tempo in the middle stages.
A veterinary inspection of HEALTHY TREASURE and EMPIRE STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.
A veterinary inspection of MARQULA immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg and have sustained cuts into the right and left hind cannons. Before being allowed to race again, MARQULA will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.
SPLENDOUR AND GOLD and DASHING DART were sent for sampling.
<18/3/2019 Additional Veterinary Report>After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that SOCCER MASTER was found to have sustained slight abrasions to the right hind cannon and the left hind fetlock. SOCCER MASTER was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer D E Ferraris this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, SOCCER MASTER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.
<24/3/2019 Adjourned Inquiry – 17 March 2019 Sha Tin Racemeeting – Race 4 (500)>The Steward today concluded their inquiry into the reason for Apprentice C Wong being dislodged from DELIGHT EXPRESS approaching the 900 Metres. Evidence was today taken from Apprentice Wong and the videos of the incident were reviewed. Apprentice Wong agreed that he had failed to take sufficient measures to prevent DELIGHT EXPRESS racing close to the heels of MARQULA which resulted in DELIGHT EXPRESS clipping the heels of that horse approaching the 900 Metres. He said at this time MARQULA lost some ground which resulted in him being awkwardly placed behind that horse. He added however that he should have steadied his mount sufficiently in the lead up to this incident to ensure that he was not placed too close to the heels of the horse in front. Apprentice Wong was advised that he must leave adequate distance between his mount and the horses in front in similar circumstances to ensure that there is room to adapt to the changing circumstances of a race.
<27/3/2019 "WINNING CONTROLLER" INQUIRY>The Stewards today continued their inquiry into W M Lai’s riding of WINNING CONTROLLER in the Collection Handicap which was run at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 17 March 2019. Further evidence was today taken from Jockey Lai and Mr C H Yip, the trainer of WINNING CONTROLLER. A written authority for Mr Yip to represent the interests of Mr Byron Yiu Kwan Tat, the owner of WINNING CONTROLLER, at today’s inquiry was tendered.
W M Lai was charged with having breached Hong Kong Rule of Racing 99 (2) in that as the rider of WINNING CONTROLLER in the stated race, he failed to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure WINNING CONTROLLER was given a full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible placing in the field.
The particulars of the charge being:-
1. That having comfortably settled WINNING CONTROLLER after the 1200 Metres approximately a half length behind and outside COOLCELEB, the leader of the race, he did unnecessarily allow WINNING CONTROLLER to improve its position to be almost racing on terms with COOLCELEB after the 950 Metres which caused the tempo of the race from that point to increase significantly when it was both reasonable and permissible for WINNING CONTROLLER to have maintained its previous position outside and behind COOLCELEB.
2. That after allowing WINNING CONTROLLER to unnecessarily improve its position passing the 950 Metres, he did then position his mount to race on terms with or in advance of COOLCELEB, thereby applying sustained pressure to that horse which caused the section of the race between the 800 Metres and the 400 Metres to be run at a very fast tempo when it was both reasonable and permissible for WINNING CONTROLLER to have been positioned outside and behind COOLCELEB and for the race to be run at a reasonable tempo.
3. That he allowed WINNING CONTROLLER to improve its position to be almost racing on terms with COOLCELEB after the 950 Metres and then positioned his mount to race on terms with or in advance of that horse until near the 400 Metres, thereby causing the middle stages of the race to be run at an unnecessarily fast tempo despite the riding instructions issued by Mr C H Yip, the trainer of WINNING CONTROLLER, that it was acceptable to have that horse in 2nd or 3rd position.
4. That by allowing WINNING CONTROLLER to improve its position to be almost racing on terms with COOLCELEB after the 950 Metres and by then positioning his mount to race on terms with or in advance of that horse until near the 400 Metres which caused that section of the race to be run at an unnecessarily fast tempo, he did fail to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that WINNING CONTROLLER was given a full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible placing in the field.
The Stewards acceded to a request submitted by Jockey Lai that the inquiry be adjourned to allow him the opportunity to consider the evidence prior to entering a plea to the charge. The inquiry is therefore adjourned until a date to be fixed.
<30/4/2019 "WINNING CONTROLLER" INQUIRY>The Stewards today concluded their inquiry into W M Lai’s riding of WINNING CONTROLLER in the Collection Handicap which was run at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday, 17 March 2019. The inquiry was resumed on Wednesday, 27 March 2019 at which time Jockey Lai was charged with having breached Hong Kong Rule of Racing 99 (2). After issuing the charge against Jockey Lai, the Stewards acceded to an application submitted by him that the inquiry be adjourned to allow him the opportunity to consider the evidence prior to entering a plea to the charge.
Jockey Lai today pleaded not guilty to the charge issued against him. After hearing further evidence from Jockey Lai at today’s hearing, the Stewards decided, after considering all the evidence, that the charge issued against him on 27 March 2019 for breaching Hong Kong Rule of Racing 99 (2) was sustained and accordingly he was found guilty.
In finding Jockey Lai guilty of the charge, the Stewards took into consideration the following:
• Jockey Lai gave evidence that the instructions provided to him by Mr C H Yip, the trainer of WINNING CONTROLLER, as to how that horse should be ridden in this race were that “If there aren’t any leaders, go forward but if there is someone who is leading the race, put him in 2nd or 3rd”.
• Mr Yip confirmed that his instructions to Jockey Lai on how WINNING CONTROLLER should be ridden in this race included “You can try to jump, let the horse roll and don’t ask him too much. If you can be in front, in front, if you can’t, 2nd or 3rd … But if somebody goes fast, you can be 2nd or 3rd”.
• COOLCELEB, ridden by Jockey R Bayliss and which was racing over 1600 Metres for the first time in this race and was wearing blinkers for the first time assumed the lead in the early stages of the race.
• At the 1100 Metres WINNING CONTROLLER had established the position outside COOLCELEB and about half a length behind that horse.
• The sectional time of the race from the start to the 1200 Metres (400 Metres) was 24.88 which is largely consistent with the Class 4 standard for that section (24.55) and which is consistent with the relevant sectional times that WINNING CONTROLLER had previously run over the course and distance (24.82 [8 July 2018], 24.89 [16 June 2018], 24.66 [3 June 2018] and 24.78 [1 January 2018]).
• After the 950 Metres WINNING CONTROLLER was unnecessarily allowed to improve from its established position to be racing almost on terms with COOLCELEB.
• WINNING CONTROLLER’s sectional time between the 1200 Metres and the 800 Metres (400 Metres) was 22.79. This represents the fastest sectional time that WINNING CONTROLLER had run between the 1200 Metres and the 800 Metres in any of its previous 4 races over the course and distance (22.96, 23.94, 23.45 and 23.50).
• This sectional time was 0.51 second faster than the Class 4 standard for that section of the race over the course and distance (23.30). This equates to this section of the race being run at least 3 lengths faster than standard.
• The first 800 Metres of the race (1600 Metres to 800 Metres) was run in 47.67 seconds, the fastest first 800 Metres that WINNING CONTROLLER had previously run over the course and distance (47.78, 48.83, 48.11 and 48.28).
• WINNING CONTROLLER continued to race on terms with or in advance of COOLCELEB after the 800 Metres when the pace of the race between the 1200 Metres and the 800 Metres had already been run at a fast tempo.
• WINNING CONTROLLER’s sectional time between the 800 Metres and the 400 Metres was 23.06. This is the fastest 800 Metres to 400 Metres sectional that WINNING CONTROLLER had run over the course and distance (23.58, 23.23, 24.02 and 24.52).
• This section of the race was run 1.04 seconds faster than the Class 4 standard over the course and distance (24.10). 1.04 seconds equates to that section of the race being run at least 6 lengths faster than standard.
• The 1200 Metres to the 400 Metres sectional (800 Metres) was run in 45.85 seconds, 1.55 seconds faster than the Class 4 standard for that section of the race over the course and distance (47.40). 1.55 seconds equates to, at least, 9 lengths. Therefore, the section of the race between the 1200 Metres and the 400 Metres was run at least 9 lengths faster than standard for Class 4 races conducted over the course and distance.
• After the race Jockey Lai informed Mr Yip that the pace of the race was “very slow”.
• Jockey Lai informed the Stewards at the inquiry that he felt the pace of the race was “normal”.
• The pace of the race between the 1200 Metres and the 400 Metres was 1.55 seconds, or at least 9 lengths, faster than standard and as such was extremely fast.
• Jockey Lai is a very experienced jockey having ridden in more than 7,500 races in Hong Kong.
• WINNING CONTROLLER ran the last 400 Metres of the race in 24.67, the slowest final sectional that the horse had run over the course and distance up until that time (22.99, 23.12, 23.81 and 24.09).
• WINNING CONTROLLER ran its last 400 Metres of the race (24.67), 1.32 seconds slower than the Class 4 standard for that section of the race over the course and distance (23.35). This equates to its final 400 Metres of the race being run at least 7 lengths slower than standard after running the first 1200 Metres of the race 1.22 seconds faster than standard.
• WINNING CONTROLLER, which finished in 3rd placing, finished the race half a length behind DASHING DART, the second placegetter.
In the circumstances, the Stewards considered the appropriate penalty was for Jockey Lai’s licence to ride in races to be suspended for a period to incorporate 10 Hong Kong racemeetings.
The Stewards then considered evidence provided by Jockey Lai as to the reasons for him having voluntarily elected not to ride both in races or track work since being charged on 27 March 2019. During that period, Jockey Lai’s capacity to earn from race riding had been significantly impacted.
The Stewards informed Jockey Lai that they were mindful of the period of time which had elapsed between the issuance of the charge on 27 March 2019 and today’s hearing, circumstances which were out of his control.
Having regard to all these matters, the Stewards considered it was appropriate for the commencement date of the aforementioned period of suspension from riding in races to be backdated to commence on Sunday, 31 March 2019 (the racemeeting following which Jockey Lai was charged) and to expire on Thursday, 2 May 2019 on which day he may resume riding. During this period, 10 racemeetings will have been conducted in Hong Kong.
Mr Yip was advised that his evidence would be noted.