21/02/2010  Shatin  Race 3

After being loaded, PLANET became fractious. Before being allowed to race again, PLANET will have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. GOOD JOB began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped GALLANT HUSSAR. Approaching the first turn, GOOD JOB proved difficult to settle when being restrained and got its head up on a number of occasions. Also approaching the first turn, SONOFTHEWEST, which was racing keenly, shifted in away from the heels of GALLANT HUSSAR which itself was being steadied to obtain cover. A short distance later, SONOFTHEWEST, which improved to be racing in restricted room between PLANET and GALLANT HUSSAR, was checked and shifted out, resulting in BERNINI, which was following, being checked away from the heels of SONOFTHEWEST, shifting out and making heaving contact with GUAN DAO which became badly unbalanced. THE KID and MY MELODY, which were following, were hampered in consequence. As the Stewards believed there were a number of circumstances which led to this incident, no further action was taken. For some distance passing the 800 Metres, TATTENHALL DELIGHT was steadied away from the heels of INCREDIBLE EAGLE. Near the 700 Metres, GOOD JOB shifted out abruptly when being steadied away from the heels of SUNSHINE BOY, resulting in GALLANT HUSSAR and STAR LEGEND being hampered and taken wider. When questioned, Apprentice K W Leung said that he had been instructed from the outside barrier to ride MY MELODY in about a midfield position with cover if possible. He said MY MELODY began satisfactorily, shortly after the start he shifted out across to race behind GUAN DAO as he thought this horse would obtain a forward position. He said when GUAN DAO did not improve its position as he thought it would, MY MELODY was obliged to race further back in the field than had been intended. He said approaching the first turn MY MELODY was bumped by THE KID which shifted out and because of this MY MELODY was obliged to race wide for the remainder of the race. When questioned regarding his riding of GUAN DAO, Apprentice M L Yeung stated that he had been instructed, from barrier 12, to ride the horse in 3rd or 4th position if possible, but to obtain cover. He said he had also been instructed not to ride GUAN DAO along in the early stages as the horse had raced disappointedly at its most recent start when ridden along to lead in the early stages. He said he had been instructed by Mr A Lee, the trainer of GUAN DAO, to allow the horse’s natural early speed to take it into the race rather than push it to go forward. He said GUAN DAO began well, he did not ride the horse along in the early stages in accordance with his instructions, however, GUAN DAO did not show the anticipated early speed. He stated that rounding the first turn GUAN DAO became badly unbalanced when BERNINI shifted out and made heavy contact with his horse. Mr Lee confirmed the instructions given to Apprentice Yeung and stated that he was very disappointed with the manner in which GUAN DAO had failed to finish off its race at its most recent start when ridden to obtain a more forward position. He said he had hoped that GUAN DAO would have had more natural early speed than it had displayed today and was surprised that the horse got as far back in the field as it did. He said he was satisfied with Apprentice Yeung’s handling of GUAN DAO in the early stages as he had specifically instructed him not to make use of the horse in the early stages. Apprentice Yeung and Mr Lee were advised their explanations would be reported, however, Mr Lee was further advised that the Stewards would note the instructions given to Apprentice Yeung today and that they had an expectation that the horse would be ridden in a consistent manner in future. When questioned, B Prebble stated that he was given no specific instructions on how to ride INCREDIBLE EAGLE other than to have the horse racing where it was comfortable. He said he had been advised by connections that INCREDIBLE EAGLE was disappointing at its first start in Hong Kong. He said shortly after the start INCREDIBLE EAGLE was checked when crowded for room between SONOFTHEWEST and SUNSHINE BOY which shifted out. He said shortly after this he became concerned with INCREDIBLE EAGLE’s action particularly in front as, in his opinion, the horse was not striding out as he thought it should. He said he commenced to ride INCREDIBLE EAGLE along from the 700 Metres to try and have it travel on the bit. He said passing the 600 Metres he gave the horse a slap down the shoulder with the whip in a continued effort to have it travel into the race, but despite this, INCREDIBLE EAGLE travelled only fairly. He said he rode INCREDIBLE EAGLE along hands and heels rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, passing the 400 Metres the horse got its head on the side and shifted in abruptly, therefore he stopped riding momentarily before continuing to ride the horse with the whip in the right hand. He added although he rode INCREDIBLE EAGLE out in the Straight, he was reluctant to fully test the horse as, in his opinion, it was sore in front. He said although INCREDIBLE EAGLE continued to make ground in the run to the line, at no stage of the race was he satisfied with the action of the horse and after the race he expressed this to the horse’s trainer, Mr K L Man. Mr Man confirmed that he had given Jockey Prebble no specific instructions due to the fact that he had been extremely disappointed with the manner in which INCREDIBLE EAGLE had performed at its only other race start. A veterinary inspection of INCREDIBLE EAGLE after the race did not show any significant findings. Mr Man was advised in the circumstances, the Stewards ruled that INCREDIBLE EAGLE be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again. A veterinary inspection of YOUNG WITNESS after the race did not show any significant findings. GALLANT HUSSAR and TATTENHALL DELIGHT were sent for sampling.