Racing Incident Report

CALIFORNIA LEVEE was withdrawn on 10.11.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter ORIENTAL ELITE (N Callan). Before being allowed to race again, CALIFORNIA LEVEE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.
On entering the Parade Ring, NOBLE DESIRE baulked and refused to proceed further into the Parade Ring. In order to prevent other horses in the Parade Ring from being inconvenienced, NOBLE DESIRE was permitted to proceed to the barriers without parading. Mr D J Whyte, the trainer of NOBLE DESIRE, was told that prior to that horse being permitted to race again at Happy Valley, it will be required to undergo a parade test at the venue.
THE SUBMARINE began only fairly.
HIN YUEN BIS was crowded for room on jumping between ORIENTAL ELITE and THE ELITES which shifted out. In this incident, ORIENTAL ELITE became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by HIN YUEN BIS.
TOP ACCOLADE, which began awkwardly, was crowded for room on jumping between FUN TIMES and NOBLE DESIRE, both of which shifted ground. In this incident, TOP ACCOLADE lost ground and both FUN TIMES and NOBLE DESIRE became unbalanced. After this, from wide barriers, TOP ACCOLADE and NOBLE DESIRE were steadied and shifted across behind runners.
Shortly after the start, AMBITIOUS HEART was bumped by MELBOURNE HALL which shifted out.
Passing the 600 Metres, MELBOURNE HALL brushed the running rail.
Making the turn after the 600 Metres, THE ELITES (M F Poon) became badly unbalanced when reluctant to maintain its position inside ORIENTAL ELITE (N Callan), lost ground abruptly and fell, resulting in its rider, M F Poon, being dislodged. NOBLE DESIRE (K Teetan), which was following THE ELITES, was severely checked and shifted out abruptly to avoid THE ELITES, resulting in FUN TIMES being badly crowded for room inside ALL BEST FRIENDS which was also hampered. TOP ACCOLADE, which was following those horses, was severely checked in consequence and THE SUBMARINE, which was racing at the rear of the field, was shifted out abruptly to avoid THE ELITES. After taking evidence from N Callan and K Teetan, the Stewards adjourned the inquiry in order to take evidence from M F Poon who was transported to hospital following the incident. A veterinary inspection of THE ELITES immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right hind leg. Before being allowed to race again, THE ELITES will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Mr F C Lor, the trainer of THE ELITES, was told that THE ELITES was not permitted to be entered for a race or barrier trial until the Stewards conclude the inquiry. Mr Lor was also told that in the interim only a senior rider is permitted to ride THE ELITES in track work.
For the majority of the race, ALL BEST FRIENDS travelled wide and without cover.
The performance of THE SUBMARINE, which finished tailed out and was some distance behind the main body of the field when hampered at the 600 Metres, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, THE SUBMARINE 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 THE SUBMARINE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.
When questioned, J Moreira stated that he was asked to obtain a forward position on WHISKEY NEAT. He said he was told if WHISKEY NEAT showed sufficient pace to be able to lead, it was acceptable for him to do so, however, it was expected that HIN YUEN BIS would be ridden to obtain the lead having been drawn inside WHISKEY NEAT and if, as anticipated, that horse was ridden positively in the early stages, then he should attempt to either sit outside that horse or behind HIN YUEN BIS. He said in the early stages he rode his mount positively to take up a forward position, however, HIN YUEN BIS, as anticipated, was vigorously ridden in the early stages to also obtain a prominent position. He said making the turn near the 1000 Metres he looked to his inside to see if it was available to obtain a trailing position behind HIN YUEN BIS which was racing one horse off the rail outside the leader GOODLUCK GOODLUCK. He said as AMBITIOUS HEART was racing directly behind HIN YUEN BIS, it was not available for him to steady and obtain a position behind HIN YUEN BIS and after the 1000 Metres WHISKEY NEAT was left racing three wide and without cover. He added after the 1000 Metres it appeared as though HIN YUEN BIS was being steadied with a view to possibly obtaining cover and therefore he elected to allow WHISKEY NEAT to improve forward of that horse passing the 900 Metres, however, when he did this, HIN YUEN BIS maintained its position between GOODLUCK GOODLUCK and WHISKEY NEAT and therefore he was required to continue to race three wide and without cover. He said whilst a gap opened up behind HIN YUEN BIS and in front of AMBITIOUS HEART near the 800 Metres, he had already committed WHISKEY NEAT to go forward and therefore it was not available for him to then steady his mount to obtain a trailing position behind HIN YUEN BIS.
A veterinary inspection of HIN YUEN BIS immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, HIN YUEN BIS will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.
A veterinary inspection of TOP ACCOLADE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.
HIN YUEN BIS, ORIENTAL ELITE and GOODLUCK GOODLUCK were sent for sampling.
<12/11/2020 Additional Veterinary Report>THE ELITES, which lost ground abruptly and fell making the turn after the 600 Metres, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said at that time the horse was lame in its right hind leg. THE ELITES was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer F C Lor this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to have swelling over its right hind cannon and fetlock. As previously advised, THE ELITES will be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again.
<9/12/2020 11 November 2020 Happy Valley Racemeeting – Race 5 (180)>The Stewards tonight concluded the inquiry into the reason for THE ELITES falling making the turn after the 600 Metres and dislodging its rider M F Poon. Evidence was tonight taken from M F Poon and Mr F C Lor, trainer of THE ELITES. It was found that THE ELITES became badly unbalanced of its own accord and fell. It was further established that there was not any outside influence which resulted in this incident and accordingly no action was necessary in respect of the incident other than action to be taken regarding THE ELITES’ racing manners. Mr Lor was advised that prior to being permitted to race again, THE ELITES will be required to undertake a series of at least three consecutive barriers trials, such barrier trials being around a bend and one of which must include a barrier trial conducted at Happy Valley Racecourse. In the trials, the horse is required to be positioned amongst runners and must be ridden by a senior jockey. Mr Lor was told that only a senior work rider is permitted to ride the horse in its track work until further notice. Further, Mr Lor was told that should THE ELITES’ racing manners come to the attention of the Stewards, whether it be in barriers trials or in a race, they would consider the horse’s suitability to continue racing in Hong Kong.