12/05/2012  Shatin  Race 5

After being loaded, FULGURITE became fractious. Before being allowed to race again, FULGURITE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. Also after being loaded, GREAT PEGASUS became very fractious, reared and momentarily sat down. GREAT PEGASUS was removed from its stall and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, GREAT PEGASUS will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. MEGA CHAMPION was slow to begin. FULGURITE shifted out at the start and bumped MASTER KEY. Passing the 1300 Metres, DEPOT BOY shifted out, resulting in SMILING WATCH being crowded for room inside SOHNA. MEGA CHAMPION was held up for clear running for a short distance after the 400 Metres. For some distance approaching and passing the 350 Metres, POTENTIAL had difficulty obtaining clear running between MASTER KEY and LITTLE RAINFOREST which was commencing to give ground. Over the final 100 Metres, DEPOT BOY was not able to obtain clear running and because of this was not properly tested. After the 100 Metres, MEGA CHAMPION was awkwardly placed inside the heels of SMILING WATCH which shifted in under pressure. Close to the finishing line, MEGA CHAMPION was shifted out across the heels of SMILING WATCH. Throughout the race, LITTLE RAINFOREST travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C W Wong stated that he had been instructed, from the outside barrier, to shift COSMO ONE across behind runners shortly after the start and obtain a position with cover and it was felt that this would be behind midfield. He said when being taken across behind runners, his saddle shifted back marginally, placing him at a disadvantage for a short distance. He said, as instanced in the Stewards’ Report, at its last start the saddle had shifted to the left hand side on that occasion and for this reason he had altered the packing on the horse in an endeavour to prevent the saddle shifting. He said on arrival at the barriers today, he adjusted the saddle to ensure that it was sufficiently tight with a view to preventing it from moving. He added approaching the first turn he was able to reposition the saddle and he immediately commenced riding the horse along to improve its position. He said he shifted COSMO ONE out in the early part of the Straight and after being immediately placed under more pressure, the horse then closed off the race well. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of WHY NOT, D Whyte stated that he had been instructed to take advantage of the horse’s inside barrier today and have the horse closer than had been the case at its only two starts when it was taken back in the early stages to overcome wide draws. He said he rode WHY NOT along in the early stages to maintain its position behind the speed, however, after the 800 Metres he was obliged to commence to urge WHY NOT along to hold its position inside MASTER KEY. He said when racing amongst horses today, WHY NOT was reluctant to maintain its position and he was obliged to continually ride the horse along in the middle stages. He added after placing WHY NOT under pressure in the early part of the Straight, the horse finished off the race only fairly and, in his opinion, was disappointing today albeit that it raced greenly throughout the event. A veterinary inspection of WHY NOT after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of GREAT PEGASUS after the race did not show any significant findings other than the horse had sustained a minor wound to the inside of the left hind leg. WHY NOT, SMILING WATCH and MEGA CHAMPION were sent for sampling.