04/04/2010  Shatin  Race 5

GORGEOUS RULER blundered badly at the start and consequently lost ground. VIVA GUY was slow to begin. Passing the 700 Metres, BEL CANTO was steadied away from the heels of GORGEOUS RULER which itself was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WIN WIN which at this time was ridden along in an attempt to maintain its position. Approaching the 600 Metres, TOUT VA BIEN was steadied away from the heels of GOOD JOB (M Chadwick) which, after reaching the lead, steadied the pace. When being steadied away from the heels of GOOD JOB, TOUT VA BIEN shifted out, resulting in COOL CAT being hampered and LUCKY TYCOON and SOUNDS EXCELLENT also being hampered in consequence. M Chadwick was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure that he does not excessively steady the pace after reaching the lead in future. Rounding the Home Turn, VIVA GUY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOLD RUSH. Approaching the 100 Metres, SOUNDS EXCELLENT got its head on the side, hung in and in doing so brushed with GOLD RUSH on a number of occasions. After this, GOLD RUSH raced in restricted room to the inside of SOUNDS EXCELLENT. Throughout the race, CHEERFUL DOUBLE travelled wide and without cover. The performance of WIN WIN, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, WIN WIN will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, D Beadman, the rider of GOLD RUSH, which had the blinkers removed today, said he had been instructed to obtain a position behind the leaders in the early stages if possible. He said GOLD RUSH began well, he noticed a number of horses being ridden to obtain forward positions inside of his mount and felt that to obtain a position as instructed, he would have been obliged to ride the horse along which would not have been in its best interests. He said therefore he shifted his mount in behind runners and obtained a position with cover. He added after obtaining a position behind SOUNDS EXCELLENT, he was able to improve his position to the inside of that horse near the 800 Metres to follow the eventual winner, LUCKY TYCOON in the run. He stated that over the final 100 Metres GOLD RUSH raced in restricted room inside SOUNDS EXCELLENT and for this reason he was not able to ride GOLD RUSH out with the whip. He added he was able to ride GOLD RUSH out hands and heels only over the concluding stages due to SOUNDS EXCELLENT racing to his outside. D Beadman was advised that whilst the Stewards considered his riding of GOLD RUSH over the final strides did not affect the horse’s placing in the race, he should wherever possible ride his mounts out right to the end of the race. When questioned, S K Sit (BEL CANTO) stated that when he rode his mount along in the early stages of the Straight, the horse immediately commenced to get its head on the side and lay in. He said for this reason passing the 350 Metres he changed the whip into his right hand and commenced to ride the horse out with the whip. He said after using the whip for a short distance, BEL CANTO continued to lay in, therefore he put the whip away and gathered up the reins to ride it out hands and heels. He said approaching the 200 Metres he again commenced to use the whip in the right hand, however, at this time he dropped his right rein. He said despite a number of attempts to regather his right rein over the final 200 Metres, he was unable to do so and for this reason he was not able to ride BEL CANTO out properly in the Straight. S K Sit was advised that his riding of BEL CANTO in the Straight bordered on incompetent and it was not to the standard expected of a rider in Hong Kong much lesser a senior rider. He was further advised that a similar display might result in the Stewards considering whether a charge should be issued. When questioned, D Whyte stated that he had not been under any specific instructions on where to ride SOUNDS EXCELLENT, but it had been hoped that the horse, which had been slow to begin at its only two race starts in Hong Kong, would be able to take up a more forward position today. He said SOUNDS EXCELLENT was again tardy to begin, he rode the horse along in the early stages and SOUNDS EXCELLENT was able to take up a position in about midfield three wide but with cover racing to the outside of LUCKY TYCOON. He said passing the 1000 Metres COOL CAT shifted out on his inside, resulting in SOUNDS EXCELLENT having to be steadied away from the heels of that horse. He said after this he rode SOUNDS EXCELLENT along in order to consolidate its position, however, passing the 850 Metres SOUNDS EXCELLENT received a bump from its inside from LUCKY TYCOON. He said at this time SOUNDS EXCELLENT became unbalanced and lost ground. He added he immediately commenced to ride SOUNDS EXCELLENT along vigorously hands and heels to have it travel on the bit. He said approaching the 600 Metres SOUNDS EXCELLENT was steadied away from the heels of LUCKY TYCOON, he continued to ride the horse along to have it travel better, however, SOUNDS EXCELLENT did not travel through the middle stages as he thought it would. He stated in the Straight SOUNDS EXCELLENT hung in and proved difficult to ride. SOUNDS EXCELLENT, LUCKY TYCOON and MASCOT FORTUNE were sent for sampling.