2 Set My Heart (I Poullis) - Bumped the side of the barrier stall on jumping away and became slightly unbalanced.
3 Star Of City Gold (L Corrales) - Near the 1200 metres had to checked from heels of 4 Chili Refreshing. (See inquiry report)
4 Chili Refreshing (Apprentice A Liu) - Approaching and passing the 400 metres, became unbalanced when racing tight between 2 Set My Heart and 6 Inordinate Opinion.
5 Racing Brothers (S Nakano) - Raced keenly in the back straight. Stewards questioned S Nakano regarding his riding in the latter part of the home turn and early part of the straight, in particular if he could have been more vigorous at this stage. He stated that his mount hung out rounding the home turn and for this reason he endeavored to keep it balanced and help it round the turn rather than put it under greater pressure which may have resulted in it hanging further. He said in hindsight that he ought to have pulled the whip through to his left hand which would have enabled him to ride his mount with more vigor rounding that turn. He said that when he did put 5 Racing Brothers under pressure at the 300 metres, it did not respond to his riding. Stewards noted S Nakano’s comments.
7 Ngwah Sweetheart (C L Cheung) - Raced three wide from the 900 metres, and was taken wider rounding the home turn when the inside runners improved. Beaten favorite. Rider stated that it was intention to find cover, however after entering the back straight when the pace steadied, he was caught wide and rounding the home turn was taken wider again. He added that his mount did not respond when put under pressure in the straight. A post race veterinary examination failed to reveal any significant abnormality. A post race swab sample was taken for analysis.
RACING INCIDENT & INQUIRY:
Prior the correct weight, L Corrales rider of 3 Star Of City Gold (2nd past the post) and Mr. W K Lam the trainer of that gelding viewed the Stewards patrol videos and lodged an objection against 4 Chili Refreshing (Apprentice A Liu) being declared the winner for alleged interference near the 1200 metres. It was established that near the 1200 metres 4 Chili Refreshing shifted in when not clear of 3 Star Of City Gold resulting in 3 Star Of City Gold having to be checked. Bearing in mind the margin of 2.5 lengths, the positions in running and the manner in which both horses finished off the race, the stewards were not of the opinion that had the interference not occurred 3 Star Of City Gold would have finished ahead of 4 Chili Refreshing, and the protest was dismissed and correct weight declared on the Judge’s placings.
At a later inquiry Apprentice A Liu pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding under MJC Rule 132(i) in that near the 1200 metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not fully clear of 3 Star Of City, resulting in 3 Star Of City having to be checked. Apprentice A Liu had his license to ride in races suspended for 2 race days, covering the race meetings of Saturday, 12 August and Friday, 18 August 2023 and fined the sum of HKD 5,000. In assessing penalty, Stewards took into account the level of carelessness and interference, the guilty plea and Apprentice A Liu’s careless riding record. He was advised of his rights of appeal.
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