13/04/2009  Shatin  Race 5

After being boxed, METRO RIDER became fractious, lunged forward and broke through the stall riderless, however, did not break free of the attendant who was assisting the horse. METRO RIDER was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Having in mind the record of METRO RIDER in relation to barrier behaviour and the unacceptable performance of the horse which finished tailed out in today's race, it will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a series of official barrier trials and be subjected to an official veterinary examination prior to it being permitted to race again. On jumping, MASSIVE STAR lost ground when bumped by FULL BLESSINGS which shifted out after being bumped by SCOOT DA LOOT. Making the turn at the 700 Metres, LEGEND and FULL BLESSINGS became unbalanced when racing tight between SCOOT DA LOOT which shifted out slightly when being steadied away from the heels of TRUE INTELLIGENCE and METRO RIDER which was carried in slightly by HONEST TREASURE. MASSIVE STAR, which was following, was steadied in consequence. At the 300 Metres, M Du Plessis (LEGEND) dropped his whip. After the 100 Metres, TRUE INTELLIGENCE got its head on the side and shifted out abruptly while hanging. When questioned regarding his riding of MIGHTY SUN, E Saint-Martin said he had been instructed to allow the horse to go forward in the early stages and if possible to obtain a position near the lead. He said MIGHTY SUN began well from the outside barrier, HONEST TREASURE which had drawn to his inside was ridden along to maintain its position. He said MIGHTY SUN was not showing natural speed and he remained racing wide on the track to see if there would be an opportunity for him to cross into a forward position. He said near the 800 Metres when a line of horses held their positions to his inside, he elected to steady his mount to come back to a position behind HONEST TREASURE with cover. He said for him to have ridden along to go forward and cross runners to his inside would have in his opinion required him to make too much use of his mount. He said after obtaining a position behind HONEST TREASURE after the 700 Metres, that horse which had been racing wide on the track did not maintain its position and as a consequence he was carried back to a position near the rear. He said in the Straight MIGHTY SUN closed the race off strongly. Mr Y S Tsui, the trainer of MIGHTY SUN, said he instructed E Saint-Martin to place his mount under some pressure from the start in an endeavour to have it go forward, however, he noted there were a lot of speed horses drawn to the inside of MIGHTY SUN and that E Saint-Martin should not make too much use of the horse in the early stages to cross. Mr Tsui said because of the manner in which today's race was run he was satisfied with the riding of E Saint-Martin. Mr Tsui was told his explanation would be reported. E Saint-Martin was also told his explanation would be reported, however, in similar circumstances he would be expected to place his mount under some pressure in the early stages in compliance with his instructions to ascertain whether it has sufficient speed to cross runners to his inside. TRUE INTELLIGENCE and MASSIVE STAR were sent for sampling.