07/03/2009  Shatin  Race 9

FAT CHOY ICHIBAN and RAISING SUN were slow to begin. Approaching the 1000 Metres, MULTO EXPRESSO and TOY STORY were hampered when crowded for room inside APPRECIATION (D Whyte) which shifted in. BOLERO, which was following, was steadied in consequence. As the Stewards were satisfied D Whyte had straightened his mount and relieved the pressure, no action was taken other than he was severely reprimanded for the initial shifting. Approaching the turn at the 800 Metres, GO DAN GO proved difficult to settle while racing close to the heels of CHEEKY LAD. Approaching the 700 Metres, MULTO EXPRESSO, which was proving difficult to settle, was steadied away from the heels of GO DAN GO which while continuing to prove difficult to settle got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of BULLISH WIN. FAT CHOY ICHIBAN and QUALITY-QUALITY, which were following, were steadied in consequence. After the 800 Metres, CLEMENT ELITE was left racing wide and without cover. For a considerable distance approaching the 200 Metres, CHEEKY LAD was held up and unable to improve. At the 200 Metres, FAT CHOY ICHIBAN was steadied away from the heels of WHIPLASH which shifted out away from the heels of BOLERO. Inside the final 50 Metres, SUPER SATIN was steadied initially away from the heels of TOY STORY and then away from the heels of APPRECIATION. As a consequence, SUPER SATIN was not ridden out to the end of the race. In the Straight, BULLISH WIN hung in. Throughout the race, APPRECIATION travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C K Tong (WHIPLASH), which had drawn the outside barrier, said he was instructed if his mount began quickly, he should go forward and endeavour to cross and race in a prominent position, however, if WHIPLASH did not begin well, he should then take his mount back and race in a position with cover. He said WHIPLASH began fairly and was then bumped by TOY'S STORY which shifted out. He said when this occurred, he noticed a number of runners to his inside were going forward, so he elected to steady WHIPLASH and take it back to the rear. He said WHIPLASH travelled satisfactorily, he commenced to improve his position from the 600 Metres and then when placed under pressure in the Straight the horse continued to make gradual ground. When questioned regarding the winner, ISTIDE, being ridden in a forward position today, Mr A Schutz, the trainer of the horse, said as he had explained following ISTIDE's most recent run, he had prior to that been disappointed with the manner in which the horse had been finishing its races off. He said because of that at its most recent starts it was decided to ride ISTIDE more quietly in an endeavour to have the horse finish its race off. He said last start in a slowly run race ISTIDE was again left racing wide and without cover and consequently disappointed in the manner in which it finished. He said today it was again anticipated the race would be run at a slow tempo and he therefore felt it would be in the best interest of ISTIDE to have it ridden more prominently to avoid being left racing wide and without cover. Mr Schutz was told his explanation would be reported and he was reminded of his responsibility to have horses trained by him ridden and perform in a consistent manner where possible. ISTIDE and APPRECIATION were sent for sampling.