Recap by phillip woo

Debutant Country Melody settled midfield and one off the outside fence from a middle gate, quickened nicely to hit the front 150m out and drew clear for a convincing win. Hay Hay was up vying for the front two off the stands side and kept on gamely with a return to blinkers to just hold second in a blanket finish for the minors. Elite Spirit travelled third from the rear near the center of the course from an inside gate, shifted to a position one off the stands side at the 150m and finished well to snare a placing in his first run over this trip. Specked late, Excitable Boy jumped well to lead narrowly four from the stands side and kept on nicely to just miss a placing. Diamond Master was up dueling for the front one off the grandstand side, poked his head in front at the 350m and grudgingly gave way over the final 100m. Kim Glory plugged on without menacing after travelling fore of midfield three off the outside fence. Fay Deep was hampered on multiple occasions after travelling beyond midfield and should have gone closer. Mellifluent switched to the center of the course at the 200m and made only a minor bid.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (198)-CHEVALIER E & M ENGINEERING HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1000Metres

JETSO DELIGHT was withdrawn on 28.11.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (bled after track work) and was replaced by first Standby Declared Starter GLORY HORSIE (A Suborics).

MASSIVE MOVE was withdrawn on 29.11.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter MELLIFLUENT (D Whyte).

SOLAR SPIRIT was also withdrawn on 29.11.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (left hip injury - lame left hind).

Before being allowed to race again, MASSIVE MOVE and SOLAR SPIRIT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

The start was delayed when DIAMOND MASTER arrived at the Start having lost its right front plate and required replating.

A FAST ONE shifted out at the start, resulting in KIM GLORY being taken out onto COUNTRY MELODY which was bumped and lost ground when crowded for room inside HAYHAY.

MELLIFLUENT was slow to begin and then despite being ridden along in the early stages failed to muster speed.

SIR JOHN began awkwardly and lost ground.

After this, despite being ridden along, SIR JOHN failed to muster speed.

DIAMOND MASTER began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped FAY DEEP.

Passing the 800 Metres, A FAST ONE was steadied away from the heels of EXCITABLE BOY.

K C Leung (FAY DEEP) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 700 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of MELLIFLUENT, causing that horse to be checked and to lose the running to which it was rightfully entitled.

K C Leung was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 15 December 2014 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Sunday, 7 December 2014.

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration Jockey Leung's good race riding record during the most recent 2013/2014 and current racing seasons.

Near the 400 Metres, BRILLANTE lay in under pressure.

Passing the 400 Metres, ELITE SPIRIT was awkwardly placed close to the heels of KIM GLORY.

Passing the 300 Metres, HAYHAY raced in restricted room between EXCITABLE BOY and DIAMOND MASTER which lay in under pressure.

Near the 250 Metres, A FAST ONE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GLORY HORSIE which was giving ground.

FAY DEEP was unable to obtain clear running over the final 200 Metres and consequently was not able to be properly tested.

When questioned, M Chadwick stated that PLANET CHOICE travelled well in the early stages although the horse did want to lay in away from the outside rail at about the 700 Metres.

He said after this PLANET CHOICE regained its balance and continued to travel strongly, however, approaching the 500 Metres the horse appeared to become uncoordinated in its action, lost balance and shifted out towards the outside running rail, resulting in it losing a considerable amount of ground and momentum.

He said he did not feel any other horse had a bearing on the horse's racing manners at this time and that PLANET CHOICE had become badly unbalanced of its own doing.

He also stated as he felt that no other horse had galloped on PLANET CHOICE at this time, he was initially concerned that the horse may have broken down and it took a number of strides for him to ascertain whether it was still sound.

He said after the 400 Metres he commenced to push the horse along, however, as PLANET CHOICE was not striding out well, he did not continue to ride it vigorously for the remainder of the race given what had occurred approaching the 500 Metres.

After viewing all the available videos, the Stewards were satisfied that no other horse had any bearing on PLANET CHOICE becoming unbalanced at this time.

A veterinary inspection of PLANET CHOICE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

Before being allowed to race again, PLANET CHOICE will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

In this incident, FAY DEEP was severely checked away from the heels of PLANET CHOICE and MELLIFLUENT, which was following FAY DEEP, was also inconvenienced as a consequence.

A veterinary inspection of BRILLANTE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

PLANET CHOICE, COUNTRY MELODY and HAYHAY were sent for sampling.