09/06/2012  Shatin  Race 2

On arrival at the Start, it was noted that OCEAN BRIGHT had blood at its mouth. OCEAN BRIGHT was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. The start was delayed when STALLION SUPREME proved difficult to load. Having in mind STALLION SUPREME’s previous record in this respect, the Stewards ruled that before being permitted to race again, STALLION SUPREME will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. VIVACISSIMO blundered at the start. From a wide barrier, REAL GENERAL was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, MAGICAL BEAM got its head on the side and lay out. Over the concluding stages, HAPPY FRIENDS was awkwardly placed inside the heels of TRENDSETTER. In the Straight, VIVACISSIMO got its head on the side and lay in. Throughout the race, LONGWAH RISING travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C K Tong (BILLION GAINS) stated that he had been asked to ride the horse where it was comfortable. He said although BILLION GAINS began well, he believed he would have had to have ridden his mount aggressively to obtain a closer position to the rail as MAGICAL BEAM, which was positioned to his inside, began equally as well and was ultimately obliged to cover ground throughout the race. He said rather than risk being left wide, he elected, shortly after the start, to shift BILLION GAINS across behind runners which was slightly further back in the field than a midfield position he had hoped to obtain. Trainer C Fownes confirmed that he had hoped for BILLION GAINS to be ridden in about a midfield position if possible. He said although the horse was ridden in a more forward position two starts ago, he believes that BILLION GAINS, which had raced one-paced, is better suited by being ridden off the pace and it is his intention to continue to have the horse ridden in this manner in the near future. A veterinary inspection of TAKE THE RAP and MAGICAL BEAM after the race did not show any significant findings. BEAR ELITE and VIVACISSIMO were sent for sampling.