Racing Incident Report

I SMELL MONEY began awkwardly.
For some distance after the 1200 Metres, VICTORY HERO was ridden along to maintain its position inside BOY OH BOY.
After passing the 600 Metres, HELENE FUN STAR got its head on the side, shifted out and made contact with VICTORY HERO, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced.
Rounding the Home Turn and at the entrance to the Straight, APPROVE was awkwardly placed behind I SMELL MONEY which commenced to give ground.
For a short distance after passing the 350 Metres, VICTORY HERO was held up for clear running before being shifted out across the heels of CIRCUIT STAR and BOY OH BOY into clear running.
Passing the 250 Metres, CIRCUIT STAR was steadied after racing in restricted room between BOY OH BOY which shifted in and RED DANCER which was taken out by KING'S FOLKS which shifted ground after being bumped by APPROVE.
Approaching the 200 Metres, KING OF PATCH shifted out under pressure and bumped GOLD TALENT which was inclined to lay in, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced.
Throughout the race, CIRCUIT STAR travelled wide and without cover.
When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he had been asked to shift CLUB LIFE across behind runners from barrier 12 and obtain a position with cover close to the rail as CLUB LIFE had shown a propensity to hang out. He said it was felt that if the horse were to be ridden in a forward position as it had been at its two starts in Hong Kong from inside barriers, the horse may be left racing wide and without cover which may result in it again hanging out. He said as the start was effected CLUB LIFE was leaning against the outside of its stall and missed the start. He said shortly after the start he attempted to shift CLUB LIFE over towards the rail, however, the horse immediately got its head on the side and commenced to hang out badly. He said he persevered with his endeavours to manoeuvre CLUB LIFE towards the rail in the hope that that may assist the horse in racing more tractably, however, CLUB LIFE continued to hang out badly and would not shift over towards the rail. He added as he was becoming detached from the field after the 1200 Metres, he attempted to ride CLUB LIFE along to make up ground, however, the horse shifted out abruptly near the 1100 Metres and he was obliged to stop riding it and attempt to have it race more tractably. He said CLUB LIFE continued to hang out badly whilst he attempted to niggle at the horse to have it improve its position as it was well out of its ground. He added rounding the Home Turn CLUB LIFE continued to hang out and he allowed the horse to shift ground outwards in the early part of the Straight to get to the outside of runners to see if it could close off the race. He said after shifting CLUB LIFE to the outside approaching the 200 Metres, the horse then ceased hanging out and he was able to ride it out with the whip in the left hand where upon it closed off the race strongly. Trainer R Gibson confirmed that he had instructed Jockey Chadwick to ride CLUB LIFE more patiently in the early stages than had been the case of its recent starts because of the barrier draw. He said in its race and track work the horse had displayed a tendency to hang out and he did not want it to be left wide from barrier 12 as he believed that this would be contrary to the horse's best interests. He added after viewing today's race, he would experiment with the gear on CLUB LIFE including giving consideration to adding a brush pricker to see if that would assist it in racing more generously. A veterinary inspection of CLUB LIFE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The racing manners of CLUB LIFE were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, CLUB LIFE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial around a bend.
When questioned, Trainer J Moore stated that he instructed Apprentice C Y Lui to lead on APPROVE if possible. He said however he was mindful that I SMELL MONEY had led in some of its races and he did not want APPROVE to become involved in a speed battle with that horse. He said he asked Apprentice Lui to be positive on APPROVE in the early stages, however, if I SMELL MONEY improved to the outside of that horse, he should maintain his position to the inside of I SMELL MONEY to ascertain whether the rider of that horse was intent on leading. He said he further instructed Apprentice Lui that if I SMELL MONEY was intent on leading, he should allow that horse to cross APPROVE and obtain a trailing position behind I SMELL MONEY. He added after viewing the race that Apprentice Lui had fully complied with his instructions and that he was very satisfied with the manner in which APPROVE had been ridden today.
When questioned regarding KING'S FOLKS being ridden in a forward position, Trainer C W Chang stated that he was disappointed with the horse's form of late when it had been ridden from off the speed due primarily to the wide barriers. He said at its first run this season, from the outside barrier, KING'S FOLKS was ridden along in the early stages and was able to obtain a position in about midfield. He said on this occasion the horse finished off the race well to be placed second. He said at its next start KING'S FOLKS was ridden for some distance in the early stages from an inside barrier but was only able to obtain a midfield position. He said he was somewhat disappointed in the manner in which the horse finished off the race on this occasion. He said since that time KING'S FOLKS' form had tapered off and with the horse stepping from 1200 Metres to 1600 Metres today with a light weight, he instructed its rider, C K Tong, to be positive on KING'S FOLKS in order to have it race more competitively. He added it is his intention for KING'S FOLKS to be ridden positively in the future but to obtain cover if at all possible.
When questioned, H W Lai stated that he had been instructed, from barrier 10, to shift GOLD TALENT from behind runners in the early stages, ensure the horse was settled and have it close off the race in the Straight. He said GOLD TALENT jumped very well but in order to comply with his instructions, he steadied the horse in the early stages in order to shift GOLD TALENT across behind runners and obtain cover. He said when being steadied in the early stages GOLD TALENT initially proved difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions, however, was able to obtain cover after the 1500 Metres and then raced more generously.
After the race, M Demuro stated that after travelling only a short distance, he became concerned with the action of OWNERS' PRIDE as the horse was not stretching out. He said because of this he eased it out of the race after the 1200 Metres. He said OWNERS' PRIDE, in his opinion, felt lame in front as well as its hind limb action did not feel comfortable. A veterinary inspection of OWNERS' PRIDE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. The performance of OWNERS' PRIDE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, OWNER'S PRIDE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.
A veterinary inspection of I SMELL MONEY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of I SMELL MONEY, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, I SMELL MONEY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.
A veterinary inspection of AGIAAL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.
CLUB LIFE, BOY OH BOY and APPROVE were sent for sampling.