Vincent Sit Shun-keung may have been the toast of Sha Tin a few weeks ago with his first treble, but his day at the office at Happy Valley yesterday was more along the lines of a repeated roast.
Sit was carpeted by stipendiary stewards on three occasions, with racing's lawmen demanding explanations for his rides on Mission (race two), Solar Mighty (race eight) and Silver Mark (race nine).
With Mission, stewards told Sit his riding in the home straight had come under notice and he should ensure that horses ridden by him were properly tested.
With Silver Mark, who came from last to second to favourite Crusader Of Gold in the American Club Challenge Cup, the jockey was told his ride (in the opinion of stewards) lacked initiative, was 'not one of his better ones', and in similar circumstances he would be expected to ride more competitively. The bottom line was a severe reprimand.
The inquiry into Sit's handling of Solar Mighty for Almond Lee Yee-tat, which saw the gelding forced three wide without cover after starting from barrier two, was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
Kevin Shea incurred the second suspension of his first contract as a club jockey yesterday, ironically at the first meeting after he posted his maiden double last Wednesday.
Shea pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding in that he allowed Kingsgate Glory to shift in at the 200m in race nine, when not sufficiently clear of Safety First, who had to be checked.