01/10/2009  Shatin  Race 10

AMPLE GAINS began very awkwardly and lost a considerable amount of ground. FULL OF JOY began awkwardly. When questioned, W M Lai stated that he had been instructed to go forward on ROCKET POWER if the horse began well, however, if the horse was slow to begin as it had been in a number of runs last season, he should position ROCKET POWER back in the field. He said the horse began well and immediately went forward, so he allowed it to race in the lead. He said ROCKET POWER proved difficult to settle and when VIGOR DELIGHT improved to his outside near the 1000 Metres, ROCKET POWER commenced to over-race and would not come back underneath him. He said whilst he believed the tempo of the race was relatively fast at this time, he was not able to steady ROCKET POWER to slow the tempo. B Doyle, the rider of VIGOR DELIGHT, stated that he had been instructed to either obtain the lead on the horse or to race in 2nd or 3rd position. He said that he allowed VIGOR DELIGHT to work its way forward from the outside barrier, however, shortly after the start VIGOR DELIGHT commenced to prove difficult to settle and raced keenly for some distance. He said on two occasions in the Back Straight he went for another hold on VIGOR DELIGHT in an attempt to restrain his mount, however, VIGOR DELIGHT raced too keenly and he was not able to steady the horse. He said it had been his intention to sit off ROCKET POWER, but due to the manner in which VIGOR DELIGHT was racing, he was obliged to race on terms with that horse. Z Purton, the rider of NATURAL NINE, said that he was instructed by the trainer of the horse to be positive on NATURAL NINE in the early stages in order to overcome barrier 13. He said it was hoped that NATURAL NINE would be able to obtain a position in midfield or slightly in advance. He said after NATURAL NINE began well, he commenced to shift across, however, MASTER POWER, which was positioned immediately to his inside, did not shift to the fence and for this reason he was obliged to race outside of that horse three wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of MASTER POWER after the race did not show any significant findings. YOUNG ELITE and STREET CAT were sent for sampling.