04/04/2010  Shatin  Race 9

At declaration time, C K Tong was declared as the rider of both BOUNCER and ELECTRONIC MASTER. It was established that C K Tong had a firm commitment to ride ELECTRONIC MASTER. As such, the Stewards permitted Apprentice K W Leung to be substituted as the rider of BOUNCER. For this declaration error, C K Tong was fined $2,000. ABLE DRAGON was slow to begin and then despite being ridden along failed to muster speed in the early stages. Passing the 1400 Metres, OUTDOOR PEGASUS, which was being shifted in to obtain a position closer to the rail, was checked away from the heels of SUNRISE which shifted out after being bumped by LEGEND EXPRESS which itself shifted out slightly after being bumped by ABSOLUTE HEDGE which at this time got its head in the air and proved difficult to settle. In this incident, OUTDOOR PEGASUS struck the heels of SUNRISE and blundered badly. Also passing the 1400 Metres, CHAMPION LAD got its head up and proved difficult to settle when being steadied away from the heels of STILTON. Shortly after the 400 Metres, ROYAL PEGASUS, which was weakening, was steadied away from the heels of MR TOPAZ which was shifted to the outside of STILTON into clear running. LEGEND EXPRESS had difficulty obtaining clear running until passing the 200 Metres. Then passing the 100 Metres, LEGEND EXPRESS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of OUTDOOR PEGASUS. W M Lai was severely reprimanded for permitting STILTON to shift out approaching the 50 Metres, resulting in BOUNCER being taken out onto MR TOPAZ which was steadied when crowded. Throughout the race, ROYAL PEGASUS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, H W Lai (LEGEND EXPRESS) stated that he had been following ABSOLUTE HEDGE in the early stages of the race and rounding the turn near the 850 Metres he observed ABSOLUTE HEDGE racing keenly, therefore he allowed himself slightly more room than he would in normal circumstances rather than racing too close to the heels of ABSOLUTE HEDGE. He added when he did this, he observed STILTON being shifted out away from the fence near the 750 Metres. He said he rode LEGEND EXPRESS along to maintain its position, however, STILTON was able to shift out and follow ABSOLUTE HEDGE which resulted in LEGEND EXPRESS racing further back than had been intended. H W Lai was advised his explanation would be recorded, however, in similar circumstances he would be expected to ride more positively than he did on this occasion in order to consolidate and maintain a favourable position. A veterinary inspection of ELECTRONIC MASTER after the race did not show any significant findings. LEGEND EXPRESS, ABSOLUTE HEDGE and IMPLIED VOLATILITY were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that CHAMPION LAD had bled from both nostrils.