Racing Incident Report

TIME WARP shifted in at the start, resulting in PAKISTAN STAR being taken in and bumping RUTHVEN.
Shortly after the start, GLORIOUS FOREVER shifted out and hampered EAGLE WAY. Then from the outside barriers, EAGLE WAY and GOLD MOUNT were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.
K Teetan (PAKISTAN STAR) was charged with careless riding in that approaching the winning post on the first occasion he failed to make sufficient effort to prevent his mount from shifting in across the running of RUTHVEN, causing that horse to be checked, strike the heels of PAKISTAN STAR and blunder badly. After pleading not guilty to the charge and hearing Jockey Teetan’s submissions in answer to the charge, the Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied to the requisite degree that Jockey Teetan had not reacted in a timely manner to his mount shifting in, and in his attempt to shift PAKISTAN STAR out after that horse got its head on the side and hung in away from TIME WARP. K Teetan was advised that in accordance with the normal practice of the Stewards, if there is a doubt as to whether a charge should be sustained, the benefit of that doubt is always afforded to the jockey, however, he was reprimanded and told to ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground and causing interference to other horses.
After passing the winning post on the first occasion, PAKISTAN STAR got its head on the side and hung in, resulting in HORSE OF FORTUNE racing tight outside WERTHER.
Passing the 400 Metres, WERTHER was checked away from the heels of PAKISTAN STAR when initially disappointed for running between that horse which shifted out and RUTHVEN. As WERTHER had not established running between PAKISTAN STAR and RUTHVEN, no further action was taken.
When questioned, Z Purton (TIME WARP) stated that the tempo of the race throughout was strong as a result of GLORIOUS FOREVER challenging TIME WARP in the lead. He said as TIME WARP must lead in its races and preferably on the rail in order to produce its best, he therefore was reluctant to allow GLORIOUS FOREVER to improve its position forward of TIME WARP despite the race being run at a very strong tempo. He said TIME WARP came under heavy pressure rounding the Home Turn and after being headed by GLORIOUS FOREVER weakened noticeably in the Straight. The performance of TIME WARP, a last start winner and which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, TIME WARP will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of TIME WARP immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.
When questioned, J Moreira stated that he was asked to ride GLORIOUS FOREVER positively in the early stages to take up a forward position. He said he was given the option of either racing outside the anticipated leader TIME WARP, however, if that horse slacked the tempo in the lead, it was acceptable for him to allow GLORIOUS FOREVER to improve into the lead. He said in accordance with his instructions he was able to obtain a forward position in the early stages and shifted in to race outside TIME WARP approaching the 1700 Metres. He said after the 1700 Metres GLORIOUS FOREVER improved to be racing about a neck in front of TIME WARP and he elected then to continue pressing forward to see whether GLORIOUS FOREVER would show sufficient speed to be able to cross TIME WARP. He said passing the 1600 Metres TIME WARP was niggled along to maintain its position to the inside of GLORIOUS FOREVER and therefore he elected to steady GLORIOUS FOREVER and sit off TIME WARP. He said along the Back Straight he sat at the hindquarters of TIME WARP and then commenced to improve his position to race on terms with that horse at the 700 Metres. He said it had been explained to him that GLORIOUS FOREVER was out-sprinted by TIME WARP at its most recent start and therefore he elected to improve at this time which was earlier than would normally be the case as he had sat off TIME WARP in the middle stages and he wanted to ensure that TIME WARP was not able to quicken and again out-sprint GLORIOUS FOREVER. He added after improving to race outside TIME WARP, GLORIOUS FOREVER then came under pressure rounding the Home Turn and did not finish off the race over the final 200 Metres. Trainer F C Lor confirmed the instructions given to J Moreira and stated that he was of the opinion GLORIOUS FOREVER had been out-sprinted by TIME WARP when that horse was allowed to have an unchallenged lead at its previous start. He said accordingly he instructed Jockey Moreira if GLORIOUS FOREVER was not able to lead today’s race, he must ensure that TIME WARP was not able to establish a break on GLORIOUS FOREVER approaching the Home Turn. A veterinary inspection of GLORIOUS FOREVER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.
When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of PAKISTAN STAR, K Teetan stated that his mount travelled well in the middle stages on the back of a strong tempo. He said he shifted PAKISTAN STAR to the outside of GLORIOUS FOREVER at the entrance to the Straight and he expected PAKISTAN STAR to quicken strongly given that it had travelled well to that point of the race. He said however that rather than respond to his riding, PAKISTAN STAR came under heavy pressure and did not show any turn of foot. He added he rode PAKISTAN STAR strongly in the early part of the Straight but by the 300 Metres the horse was already giving ground. He said PAKISTAN STAR then refused to stretch out over the latter stages of the race and gave ground noticeably to finish at the rear of the field. The performance of PAKISTAN STAR, which finished second last as one of the favourites of today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, PAKISTAN STAR will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of PAKISTAN STAR, immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious.
GLORIOUS FOREVER, EAGLE WAY and EXULTANT were sent for sampling.
<21/11/2018 18 November 2018 Sha Tin Racemeeting – Race 7 (187)>The Stewards tonight questioned K C Leung (RUTHVEN) regarding his decision to improve his position after 1300 Metres when the pace was being run at a good tempo. K C Leung stated that he was instructed to obtain a forward position behind the leaders if possible as RUTHVEN is one-paced. He said after being badly interfered with shortly after the start, RUTHVEN settled further back in the field than had been anticipated. He said this resulted in RUTHVEN having to race behind HORSE OF FORTUNE after this incident. He said passing the 1400 Metres a considerable gap had opened up in front of HORSE OF FORTUNE due to the tempo of the race. He said as HORSE OF FORTUNE, in his opinion, would not be able to take him into the race, he felt that there was an opportunity after the 1300 Metres to improve his position forward of HORSE OF FORTUNE and to race behind the leaders and outside PAKISTAN STAR. He said although the race was being run at a good tempo at this time, he felt that RUTHVEN would be able to improve its position forward of HORSE OF FORTUNE without having to make too much use of the horse and that he would be able to do this within a relatively short distance. He added accordingly he shifted RUTHVEN to the outside of HORSE OF FORTUNE passing the 1300 Metres and was able to improve his position to race in advance of that horse and outside PAKISTAN STAR with cover behind GLORIOUS FOREVER by the 1100 Metres. He said after this RUTHVEN retained cover behind GLORIOUS FOREVER until being taken wider by PAKISTAN STAR approaching the 500 Metres.