18/09/2010  Shatin  Race 5

MOONGLOW began awkwardly and lost ground. As the start was effected, HEALTHY BLUEBERRY lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently was slow to begin. A short distance after the start, DIVINE KID was crowded for room between HEALTHY BLUEBERRY which shifted out and COMPACT YARN which was taken in by WO AI NINN. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, TOM’S EIGHTH failed to muster speed and shortly after the start was taken across behind runners. Passing the 1500 Metres, HEALTHY BLUEBERRY, which had been ridden along after losing ground at the start, and COMPACT YARN were crowded for room inside PUBLIC FIGURE (G Cheyne) which shifted in when not properly clear. G Cheyne was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. Passing the 1400 Metres, HEADSIWIN was steadied away from the heels of SUISSE D’OR (Apprentice C Y Ho) which shifted in when not quite clear In this incident, HEADSIWIN shifted in away from the heels of SUISSE D’OR, resulting in crowding occurring to LIBERATOR and INDUSTRIAL LEGEND, both of which became badly unbalanced. A short distance later, HEADSIWIN was crowded for room inside BEAUTIFUL CHOICE which at this time was steadied away from the heels of PUBLIC FIGURE which, after shifting in when barely clear, commenced to steady the tempo. INDUSTRIAL LEGEND and LIBERATOR, which continued to race inside HEADSIWIN, were again crowded for room and became unbalanced. Whilst the Stewards believed that the incident, which was one of some significance, was not attributable to any one rider, nonetheless Apprentice Ho was reprimanded for shifting in when not properly clear and was advised that in similar circumstances he would be expected to give runners to his inside sufficient clearance when shifting ground. G Cheyne was reprimanded and advised that after crossing runners to his inside, he must not relax the tempo to the extent where it places horses behind him in difficulty. When questioned regarding his riding of BEAUTIFUL CHOICE, B Doyle stated that from barrier 4, he had been instructed to take up a forward position on the horse and obtain a position behind the leaders if possible. He said BEAUTIFUL CHOICE began well, he rode the horse along in the early stages, however, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE took some time to muster speed. He said because of this despite him riding the horse along again near the 1500 Metres, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE was not able to cross HEADSIWIN which maintained its position to his inside with both INDUSTRIAL LEGEND and LIBERATOR racing to the inside of HEADSIWIN. He said near the 1400 Metres BEAUTIFUL CHOICE raced tight on the inside of HEALTHY BLUEBERRY and close to the heels of PUBLIC FIGURE and at this time became unbalanced. He said although he was racing in a position four wide and without cover, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE was not travelling well enough for him to ride it along in an endeavour to try and clear runners to his inside. He said near the 1000 Metres BEAUTIFUL CHOICE was able to shift in to a three wide position, however, the horse remained racing without cover and shortly after entering the Straight commenced to give ground. He added although BEAUTIFUL CHOICE was crowded for room in the early stages, the horse was disappointing in that it failed to show any early speed to obtain a position closer to three wide and was not able to obtain cover. The performance of BEAUTIFUL CHOICE was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HEADSIWIN, Z Purton stated that although his mount was interfered with in the early stages, HEADSIWIN then travelled satisfactorily until near the 600 Metres at which time it came under pressure. He said despite him riding HEADSIWIN along rounding the Home Turn, the horse was most disappointing in its failure to finish off the race. He did say that, in his opinion, given the manner in which HEADSIWIN raced, the horse may be better suited by being ridden more quietly than it was today. He added that he had been asked to ride the horse in a more forward position due to an inside barrier, however, in retrospect, this may not have suited HEADSIWIN. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of COMPACT YARN, H W Lai stated that after beginning only fairly, his mount did not travel at any stage of the race and was disappointing in the manner in which it gave ground in the Straight despite him riding the horse along. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTIFUL CHOICE, HEALTHY BLUEBERRY, HEADSIWIN and COMPACT YARN after the race did not show any significant findings. HEALTHY BLUEBERRY, PUBLIC FIGURE and TOM’S EIGHTH were sent for sampling.