Recap by phillip woo

Wayfoong Vinnie eased out to sit on the back of the favourite Cour Valant three deep behind midfield at the 600m and quickened well to mow that one down 50m out for a first win at his seventh outing. He's come back a better horse this campaign and should be able to hold his own off a light weight in the next grade. He should get 1,400m as well. Early favourite Cour Valant rushed to the lead 150m out after being left without cover three deep in midfield at the 800m and again had to settle for a minor position in the end. He's running well and will be hard to beat if he can draw a gate. Kirov ran on steadily travelling fore of midfield for a placing. The rise in weight following a last-start win had a say in the finish. Ray Of Gold closed off well after travelling third from the rear to just miss a placing in his season debut. He had ended last season with two Class Fives wins and might be able to get away with a race off a lightweight in this grade. Late-fancied favourite Fine Rock produced another disappointing run following a midfield run after opening his season with an easy win over this trip. He likely requires rating relief. Plunged late, Hay Go Lucky stumbled and came down in the shadows of the post after tracking the leaders.

Racing Incident Report

Race Three: (188)-CHUKYO HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Metres

QUANTUM DASH was withdrawn on 15.11.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter MASSIVE MILLENNIUM.

Before being allowed to race again, QUANTUM DASH will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

HAPPY BEAUTY was slow to begin and then from the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners.

MASSIVE MILLENNIUM began awkwardly and lost ground.

FINE ROCK began awkwardly.

RAY OF GOLD shifted out at the start and bumped SALSA BROTHERS.

After this, RAY OF GOLD and SALSA BROTHERS were shifted across behind runners shortly after the start.

Making the first turn after the 1100 Metres, MASSIVE MILLENNIUM was awkwardly placed outside the heels of WAYFOONG VINNIE which was racing tight outside the heels of FINE ROCK.

Approaching the 700 Metres, COUR VALANT was left racing wide and without cover.

Near the 550 Metres, RAY OF GOLD was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FINE ROCK.

For some distance approaching the 500 Metres, KIROV got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of HAY GO LUCKY.

FANTASTIC FABIO became unbalanced rounding the Home Turn.

Approaching the 200 Metres, HAY GO LUCKY was shifted out away from the heels of WORLD CITY which got its head on the side and shifted out under pressure.

Passing the 200 Metres, WAYFOONG VINNIE was inconvenienced when awkwardly placed outside the heels of COUR VALANT which shifted out.

Passing the 150 Metres, RAY OF GOLD raced in restricted room between FANTASTIC FABIO and KIROV.

Close to the finishing line, FINE ROCK was shifted in away from the heels of SALSA BROTHERS which was racing tight inside WORLD CITY.

COUR VALANT lost its left hind plate after the race.

The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident had occurred over the concluding stages of the race which cast doubt on whether WAYFOONG VINNIE should be declared the winner.

After viewing the videos, a protest/objection on behalf of the connections of COUR VALANT (J Moreira) was not proceeded with.

It was established that at the entrance to the Straight WAYFOONG VINNIE was racing directly behind COUR VALANT, the second placegetter and improved its position to be racing on terms with that horse at about the 75 Metres.

It was also found that WAYFOONG VINNIE then shifted in and bumped COUR VALANT approaching the 50 Metres and again passing the 50 Metres with WAYFOONG VINNIE subsequently being declared to have won the race by a neck margin over COUR VALANT.

Having regard to the manner in which both horses were finishing off the race, the proximity of the incident to the winning post and the margin between the horses at the end of the race, the Stewards were satisfied that, despite shifting in and making contact with COUR VALANT on two occasions, WAYFOONG VINNIE would have won the race irrespective.

Therefore the Stewards believed that there were insufficient grounds to proceed with a formal protest/objection and accordingly weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

Whilst it had no bearing on the Stewards' decision not to proceed with the matter, J Moreira did not lodge a formal protest/objection on behalf of the connections of COUR VALANT.

N Rawiller (WAYFOONG VINNIE) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 50 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in, resulting in that horse making contact with COUR VALANT on two occasions and causing COUR VALANT to be taken in across the rightful running of HAY GO LUCKY over the concluding stages, causing HAY GO LUCKY to be checked, clip the heels of WAYFOONG VINNIE and stumble, resulting in M Chadwick being dislodged from HAY GO LUCKY.

N Rawiller was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 7 December 2016 and to expire on Wednesday, 28 December 2016 on which day he may resume race riding (6 Hong Kong racedays).

Acting under the provisions of Rule 101(3), the Stewards were satisfied that no part of Jockey Chadwick had made contact with the ground prior to the winning post and accordingly HAY GO LUCKY was deemed to have carried the weight and HAY GO LUCKY's position as notified by the Judge was confirmed.

When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FINE ROCK, C Y Ho stated that the horse, which was stepping back in distance from 1650 Metres to 1200 Metres tonight, did not show any early speed despite being aggressively ridden for some distance in the early stages.

He said he had to continually niggle at FINE ROCK in an endeavour to have the horse maintain its positon and FINE ROCK did not travel comfortably for the majority of the race.

He said when the pace quickened rounding the Home Turn, FINE ROCK was left flat-footed and then did not respond to his riding in the Straight.

He added, in his opinion, the horse would be better suited over a distance longer than that of tonight's race.

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

After the race, it was reported that WORLD CITY was lame in its left front leg and was a "roarer" which had previously been reported and that HAY GO LUCKY had sustained a superficial abrasion to the outside of the right hind cannon.

Before being allowed to race again, WORLD CITY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

FINE ROCK, WAYFOONG VINNIE and COUR VALANT were sent for sampling.