Recap by phillip woo

Brilliant Proposal cleared to the front 750m out from a wide gate, straightened three lengths on top and just held off the late-fancied Fantastico by a whisker for the win with the important 10-pound claim of Kei Chiong Ka-kei in play. Unfortunately, he did pull up badly. Fantastico settled one off the fence in fifth, rounded the final bend five deep and finished well despite ducking in sharply inside the final 50m. He was suited by the light weight with a rise in class. Smart Declaration straightened three deep after a prominent run along the fence, switched to the inside for a clear run at the 150m and had to steady 50m out. Favourite Top Bonus settled one off in second outside Call Me Achiever, straightened three deep and was another who had to take hold close to home to just hold Flying Force for a Quartet spot. Flying Force bided his time fourth from the rear, pushed into the open with three wider out upon straightening and finished well in a pleasing first run at the Valley. No Money No Talk plugged on without menacing following a one off run with cover in midfield. Great Sky made some ground after travelling second from the rear. Plunged late, Racing Mate never let down with two wider out at the top of the straight after a deep run without cover travelling behind midfield from a wide gate.

Racing Incident Report

Race Four: (503)-BRIAR HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1000Metres

NO MONEY NO TALK began awkwardly and shortly after the start, from a wide barrier, was shifted across behind runners.

Shortly after the start, FLYING FORCE was momentarily crowded for room inside FIVE STARS AGENT.

From wide barriers, HAPPY GAINS and POWER DRAGON were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners.

Apprentice K K Chiong (BRILLIANT PROPOSAL) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching and passing the 600 Metres she permitted her mount to shift in under pressure when not clear of TOP BONUS, causing that horse to be taken in onto CALL ME ACHIEVER, resulting in those horses being unnecessarily crowded for room, becoming unbalanced and losing ground.

Apprentice Chiong was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 7 April 2016 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Thursday, 31 March 2016.

In addition, Apprentice Chiong was fined $2,500 being half of her average daily earnings in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 1 further raceday.

After the 600 Metres, RACING MATE was left racing wide and without cover.

Making the turn after the 600 Metres, NO MONEY NO TALK lay in and bumped the hindquarters of FIVE STARS AGENT.

FIVE STARS AGENT then became unbalanced and shifted out making the turn, resulting in NO MONEY NO TALK being hampered when crowded for room inside RACING MATE.

HAPPY GAINS made the turn after the 600 Metres awkwardly.

Passing the 250 Metres, SMART DECLARATION was shifted to the inside of TOP BONUS after being disappointed for running between that horse and FANTASTICO which shifted in.

Passing the 200 Metres, FIVE STARS AGENT was shifted in away from the heels of CALL ME ACHIEVER which shifted in when giving ground.

H W Lai (FANTASTICO) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 50 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in under pressure when not clear of TOP BONUS, causing that horse to be checked and further that he permitted FANTASTICO to continue to shift in under pressure, resulting in SMART DECLARATION also being severely checked close to the finishing line.

When shifting in across the running of SMART DECLARATION, H W Lai stopped riding FANTASTICO with the whip in an endeavour to prevent it from shifting in further.

H W Lai was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 11 April 2016 on which day he may resume race riding (3 Hong Kong racedays).

The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Happy Valley racemeeting on Thursday, 31 March 2016.

In addition, H W Lai was fined $30,000 in lieu of a suspension for a period incorporating 2 further racedays.

In assessing penalty, the Stewards took into consideration the high degree of carelessness exhibited by Jockey Lai in this incident and the nature of the interference sustained by TOP BONUS and SMART DECLARATION.

After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that BRILLIANT PROPOSAL was lame in its left front leg.

Before being allowed to race again, BRILLIANT PROPOSAL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

TOP BONUS, BRILLIANT PROPOSAL and FANTASTICO were sent for sampling.