21/09/2014  Shatin  Race 5

MOBILE KING blundered at the start and then a short distance later was checked when crowded for room between DRAGON BACHELOR and OXFORD CHARLEY which shifted out after beginning awkwardly. HARBOUR DELIGHT shifted out at the start and bumped DRAGON PINS. From wide barriers, ROBUST MOMENTUM and TELECOM PRINCE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 1300 Metres, DRAGON PINS was awkwardly placed inside the heels of DRAGON BACHELOR which was initially taken in by DUAL HAPPY which was then shifted out to relieve the tightening to runners on its inside. ROBUST MOMENTUM, which was following DRAGON BACHELOR, was steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. Also near the 1300 Metres, MOBILE KING shifted out away from the heels of GLORIOUS RYDER. Passing the 750 Metres, OXFORD CHARLEY commenced to prove difficult to settle and shifted out when awkwardly placed behind MOBILE KING which was racing close to the heels of GLORIOUS RYDER. When OXFORD CHARLEY shifted out, it bumped DRAGON BACHELOR, causing both horses to become unbalanced. For some distance after this, OXFORD CHARLEY continued to prove difficult to settle. Passing the 600 Metres, DRAGON PINS was checked when disappointed for running between TERRIFIC MASTER and OXFORD CHARLEY which shifted to the inside of the heels of MOBILE KING. Over the final 100 Metres, DRAGON PINS was not able to be tested when unable to improve into running between DRAGON and ROBUST MOMENTUM. For the majority of the race, DUAL HAPPY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding his riding of HARBOUR DELIGHT in the early and middle stages, Apprentice C Y Lui stated that he had been instructed to lead on the horse with the blinkers applied. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode HARBOUR DELIGHT vigorously in the early stages to take up a forward position. He said near the 1400 Metres HARBOUR DELIGHT shifted ground abruptly and unexpectedly which resulted in him having to straighten the horse to prevent it from shifting in further. He said as he had ridden HARBOUR DELIGHT on two occasions previously, he was aware that the horse has a soft mouth and was mindful of this when shifting HARBOUR DELIGHT towards the rail in the lead. He added although he was aware that HARBOUR DELIGHT had opened up a margin over the remainder of the field, he was reluctant to restrain the horse more heavily as he did not want it becoming unbalanced and getting its head in the air. He said notwithstanding this he attempted to steady the tempo on HARBOUR DELIGHT as he was aware that the race was being run at a fast tempo. Apprentice Lui conceded after viewing the video he should have made a greater effort to restrain HARBOUR DELIGHT given the significant margin that the horse had established over the remainder of the field and the tempo of the race at that time. Trainer D Cruz confirmed that he had asked Apprentice Lui to lead on the horse as it had blinkers applied and he felt that the race would be run at a slow tempo as, in his opinion, there was a lack of horses that had previously led in their races. He said whilst it was apparent that HARBOUR DELIGHT was travelling strongly along the Back Straight, in his opinion, Apprentice Lui could have done more to attempt to steady the tempo at this time of the race. Apprentice Lui was advised that whilst the Stewards accepted that HARBOUR DELIGHT did race keenly along the Back Straight, nonetheless as a 7 lb claiming apprentice jockey who has ridden in Hong Kong for some period of time now, he would be expected to show far greater effort to steady HARBOUR DELIGHT than he did on this occasion. He was further advised that he must make every endeavour to rate his mounts so that they are able to race competitively. A veterinary inspection of OXFORD CHARLEY and DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DEMOKLES, TERRIFIC MASTER and DUAL HAPPY were sent for sampling.