Recap by phillip woo

Winning Leader was given a lovely rail's hugging ride in midfield, eased into the open four deep soon after straightening and quickened nicely to take control 130m out with his preferred jockey Zac Purton back on board. Wah May Friend settled worse than midfield and one off the fence, rounded the final bend five deep and finished well to grab second 70m out. Universal Union ran on strongly six deep after travelling at the tail of the field to nip Up And Coming for a placing. Up And Coming was finished nicely four deep after travelling third from the rear from an awkward gate to make it a bob of heads for a placing. Full Talent blew his chances when drifting out under pressure following a prominent run with cover. Pikachu was getting going late with one wider out after travelling near the rear from a wide gate. Sichuan Dar produced a pleasing debut run when running on widest out after travelling second from the rear after a tardy break. Golden Sleep gave way over the final 100m after stalking the leader Sichuan Vigour. Favourite High And Mighty didn't fire after recovering from a slow break.

Racing Incident Report

Race Ten: (064)-SAN FRANCISCO HANDICAP - Class 2 - 1400Metres

SICHUAN DAR began only fairly.

WAH MAY FRIEND shifted in on jumping and bumped WINNING LEADER.

PIKACHU was crowded for room on jumping between SICHUAN VIGOUR and GIANT TURTLE which began awkwardly and shifted in abruptly.

After this, PIKACHU, from a wide barrier, was shifted across behind runners.

Shortly after the start, GOLDEN SLEEP became unbalanced when bumped by SICHUAN VIGOUR.

GOLDEN SLEEP then shifted in and made contact with UP AND COMING.

After this, UP AND COMING was taken across behind runners.

Also shortly after the start, UNIVERSAL UNION was steadied away from the heels of FULL TALENT which shifted out.

Passing the 1000 Metres, SELKIRK STAR was momentarily crowded for room inside WINNING LEADER which was taken in by WAH MAY FRIEND which shifted in briefly before being shifted out to relieve the tightening.

Making the turn after the 900 Metres, SELKIRK STAR was again crowded for room inside WINNING LEADER which was taken in by MARVEL TRIBE which, despite the endeavours of its rider, got its head on the side and shifted in away from the heels of GIANT TURTLE.

Also making the turn after the 900 Metres, FULL TALENT was momentarily crowded for room inside GOLDEN SLEEP (K Teetan) which shifted in before shifting back out to relieve the tightening.

K Teetan was advised to exercise more care.

Passing the 600 Metres, PIKACHU was awkwardly placed close to the heels of MARVEL TRIBE.

In the Straight, FULL TALENT (Apprentice K K Chiong) shifted out under pressure.

Over the concluding stages, SICHUAN DAR was inconvenienced by FULL TALENT which continued to drift out.

Apprentice Chiong was advised that, in similar circumstances, she would be expected to stop riding and straighten her mounts.

Throughout the race, GIANT TURTLE and DR GOOD HABIT travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, K Teetan stated that he had been instructed to ride GOLDEN SLEEP wherever it was comfortable.

He said in a number of its previous starts in Hong Kong, the horse had proved very difficult to settle when being ridden behind runners.

He said in accordance with his instructions, he allowed GOLDEN SLEEP to obtain a forward position and the horse, in his opinion, responded favourably to being ridden in this manner as it performed well.

When questioned, G Mosse explained that he had been asked to ride WAH MAY FRIEND more conservatively today as the horse had not finished off its most recent race when ridden in the lead.

He said he was asked to have the horse positioned in about midfield and when ridden in this manner, WAH MAY FRIEND finished off the race strongly.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HIGH AND MIGHTY, B Prebble stated that his mount began awkwardly which is consistent with the manner in which the horse had begun in a number of its recent race starts.

He said after this he was able to make up lost ground and obtain a good position behind the leader SICHUAN VIGOUR.

He said HIGH AND MIGHTY travelled only fairly and as far out as the 600 Metres he became concerned with the manner in which the horse was reluctant to make up ground behind SICHUAN VIGOUR.

He added he placed HIGH AND MIGHTY under pressure rounding the Home Turn and, despite being fully tested, HIGH AND MIGHTY was disappointing in its failure to finish off the race.

A veterinary inspection of HIGH AND MIGHTY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

HIGH AND MIGHTY, WINNING LEADER and WAH MAY FRIEND were sent for sampling.

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GENERAL:

1.

Races 3 - 5 were each put back 5 minutes.



2.

23 September 2015 Happy Valley Racemeeting - Race 7 (53) The Stewards today interviewed Mr C H Yip, the trainer of BEST HOPE, and took further evidence from K C Ng regarding the riding of BEST HOPE in this race.

Mr Yip stated that when Z Purton rode the horse at its final start last season, it did not finish off the race as expected when ridden from behind the lead.

He said after this race Jockey Purton advised him that BEST HOPE may be better suited by leading in its races and accordingly when the horse resumed this season at Sha Tin on 13 September 2015, he instructed the rider to lead on BEST HOPE.

He said as the horse was successful in that race, he again felt that it would be in the best interests of BEST HOPE to lead this race, stepping up to 1650 Metres.

He confirmed that he instructed Jockey Ng to lead on BEST HOPE, however, if another horse was clearly intent on leading, he should hand up the lead on BEST HOPE, but only after he signalled his intention to lead.

He added whilst he was aware that SOLAR KINGDOM (Y T Cheng) generally races in forward positions, as the horse was racing over 1650 Metres for the first time at Happy Valley, he believed that the connections of SOLAR KINGDOM may have been wishing to take a sit on that horse in order for it to see out the distance.

He said viewing the race, it became apparent to him that passing the winning post on the first occasion that the rider of SOLAR KINGDOM was intent on leading and that with hindsight Jockey Ng should have ceased riding his mount at this time and allowed SOLAR KINGDOM to cross into the lead as the tempo of the race up until about the 1000 Metres appeared to him to be very fast.

K C Ng was advised that notwithstanding his instructions which he felt to be quite binding, he must ride his mounts with judgement and initiative to ensure that they are able to close off their races.

He was further advised that in this particular race, it was apparent that Y T Cheng was intent on leading passing the winning post on the first occasion and that in order for BEST HOPE to be able to finish off the race, it was clearly a preferable option for him to have steadied his mount at this time.

Mr Yip was advised to ensure that he issues instructions which are not too binding and which allow jockeys to exercise judgement and initiative.



3.

Additional Veterinary Reports from Happy Valley Racemeeting on 23 September 2015 Subsequent official veterinary inspections (without endoscopy) of SMART UNION, FRESH AND FRESH, RISING POWER, WIN CHANCE, SPARKLING SWORD, KITAYA, LOVELY NAUGHTY, STAR OF WAI BO, TEN FLAMES, JOYEUX, EXCEL ONESELF, GENERAL IRON, BLOCKER DEE, FORMULA WON, WIN IT, SPEEDY LONGWAH, BORN IN CHINA and DIVINE BOY revealed no apparent abnormality.



4.

Racing Laboratory tests of ORIENTAL FANTASIA, NOVEL START, GRASSLAND DRAGON, NATURAL TEAM, GLORIOUS AVENUE, MELLIFLUENT, AXIOM, MISTER MARC, LIGHTNING PEGASUS, CALL ME ACHIEVER, JOLLY POSH, ROYAL PARTNER, YOUNG RANGER, LITTLE DRAGON, SUPEROI, WINNING MASCOT, GRACE HEART, HELLA HEDGE, OBLITERATOR, FAT CHOY HONG KONG and GOODHEART SUCCESS (16.9.15) proved negative.

SUMMARY:

1.

Withdrawals Race 6: ASIA RISING (standby runner) on 27.9.15 on veterinary advice.

Race 7: TIANHUANG on 26.9.15 on veterinary advice.

SUPER MAN on 27.9.15 on veterinary advice.



2.

Fines Race 2: K C Ng (G-ONE LEADER): $2,000 for presenting himself to be weighed out with the incorrect saddle cloth number.

M L Yeung (WHISTLE BLOWER): $15,000 for a breach of Rule 100(2).



3.

Reprimands Race 4: C Schofield (FOREST COLOURS) for shifting out at the entrance to the Straight.

C Y Ho (SOUTHCHINA COMMAND) for shifting in passing the 200 Metres.



4.

Warnings Race 5: Y T Cheng (SPICY SIAM) for shifting out near the 200 Metres.

Race 8: Apprentice H N Wong (OVETT) for shifting ground approaching the 1000 Metres.

Race 10: K Teetan (GOLDEN SLEEP) for shifting in making the turn after the 900 Metres.

Apprentice K K Chiong (FULL TALENT) for shifting out over the concluding stages.

General: K C Ng (BEST HOPE) re his riding in the early stages.

Trainer C H Yip (BEST HOPE) re issuance of instructions.



5.

Suspension Race 2: G Mosse (LONDON MASTER) for careless riding near the 900 Metres (18 - 26 October 2015 on which day he may resume race riding - 3 Hong Kong racedays).



6.

Protest/Objection Race 2

7.

Stalls Tests Race 1: BERNARD'S CHOICE Race 2: WINASWEWISH

8.

Official Veterinary Examinations Race 1: HAPPY GOAL Race 6: ASIA RISING Race 7: TIANHUANG SUPER MAN