Bad boy Chui in hot water again

Top apprentice Marco Chui Kwan-lai continues to run into the wrong end of the rules and only an adjournment to take further evidence looks to stand between him and the stewards imposing another ban.

Recently returned from a ban for failing to fulfil his stable duties for his former designated trainer, David Ferraris, Chui pleaded not guilty to careless riding on Eye Witness yesterday after an incident at the 400m which saw Man In The Mirror checked.

But before it came down to a final decision by the stewards, the youngster asked to call fellow junior Alex Lai Hoi-wing (Tactic King) to give evidence on his behalf.

Stewards acceded to the request, but the inquiry is only on hold until an hour before the opening event at Happy Valley on Wednesday.

Chui was able to take something more positive out of this meeting though, scoring in the Suisse Programme Handicap (1,400m) for Me Tsui Yu-sak on Shangdong General.

Stewards asked Tsui for a 'please explain' regarding the three-year-old's first-up failure on the dirt over 1,200m but the trainer pointed out his charge had been caught wide from a wide barrier behind Kimbo Kid.

'Today he had a good run from a better barrier and it was enough to make the difference,' he said.