08/05/2010  Shatin  Race 6

BOBO WIN was withdrawn on 6.5.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BEAUTIFUL CHOICE. Before being allowed to race again, BOBO WIN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As the start was effected, PACIFIC ALLIANCE reared and lost ground. ORIENTAL COURSER began awkwardly. Shortly after the start, ROYAL WARRIOR got its head up. For some distance passing the 1400 Metres, CENTRAL ROLE proved difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions when close to the heels of PUBLIC FIGURE. Near the 850 Metres, WAIT FOR ME was crowded for room between GALLANT GALLOP and PACIFIC ALLIANCE which at this time got its head on the side and hung out. Passing the 600 Metres, WAIT FOR ME was checked away from the heels of ORIENTAL COURSER. Rounding the Home Turn, ORIENTAL COURSER was steadied away from the heels of TELECOM GOGO (Apprentice C Y Ho) which at this time shifted out to obtain clear running. Apprentice Ho was advised to ensure that he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. WAIT FOR ME, which was following ORIENTAL COURSER, was steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence and then at the entrance to the Straight was again steadied away from the heels of GALLANT GALLOP before being shifted out to obtain clear running. Passing the 300 Metres, GOLD RUSH raced tight inside CENTRAL ROLE which shifted in marginally. Near the 200 Metres, SPLENDID CHAMPION shifted inwards when M Chadwick was having difficulty gathering up his right rein. Throughout the race, BIG WINNER AGAIN travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding BEAUTIFUL CHOICE leading today, Trainer S Woods stated that in assessing the race the only potential leader, in his view, was PUBLIC FIGURE. He said accordingly he anticipated that the race would be run at a slow tempo. He said previously BEAUTIFUL CHOICE had over-raced in races which had not been run at a genuine tempo and therefore he instructed J Lloyd to be positive on BEAUTIFUL CHOICE in the early stages of the race, however, if PUBLIC FIGURE showed sufficient speed to lead outright, he should take a sit behind that horse. He said, in the alternative, if PUBLIC FIGURE was not ridden to lead, he should make the running. S Woods added that the instructions today were similar to those issued at its most recent start, however, on that occasion the race was run at a more solid tempo with a number of widely drawn runners being ridden into forward positions, therefore BEAUTIFUL CHOICE was able to obtain a position behind the leaders rather than having to make the running. He said however that that option of leading was open to O Doleuze last start if the circumstances of the race were different. He said as he anticipated, by comparison, a slowly run race today, he believed it was in the best interests of BEAUTIFUL CHOICE not to be behind runners unless PUBLIC FIGURE set a genuine tempo. He said in its race starts for his stable, he had attempted to have BEAUTIFUL CHOICE ridden off the pace in an endeavour to have the horse settle as, in his opinion, it has had the tenacity to race “aggressively”. O Doleuze confirmed that he had been instructed to ride BEAUTIFUL CHOICE in the lead at its most recent start if the tempo of the race was not strong, however, if other runners showed superior speed, he should sit off the pace. He said in that race horses drawn to his outside showed superior speed and as the tempo of the race was, in his opinion, good, he elected to race behind those runners. He said when ridden in this manner BEAUTIFUL CHOICE travelled better than it did when he previously rode the horse at Happy Valley on 7 April 2010 when it over-raced badly and proved very difficult to settle. He added that when he rode the horse at its most recent start, Trainer S Woods applied a crossed nose band and the horse had raced more tractably than it had when he previously rode the horse. KING OF SCOTS, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE and PUBLIC FIGURE were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that REDOUTE’S STAR had lost its right front plate.