08/05/2010  Shatin  Race 9

When being steadied shortly after the start, MASTER TOUCH got its head in the air on a number of occasions. Rounding the Home Turn, MEDIC FORTUNE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SPEEDY PEGASUS. Passing the 300 Metres, MASTER TOUCH shifted to the outside of FORTUNE HAVEN, resulting in SHAM SHUI PO being taken out and bumping JOYFUL WINNER. When questioned, G Cheyne stated that from barrier 14, he had been instructed to ride AMAZING SKY, which was having its first start in Hong Kong today, quietly so as to ensure the horse was able to finish off its race. He said he shifted across with runners in the early stages and passing the 1200 Metres had hoped to obtain a position behind the favourite, PENGLAI XIANZI. He said however at this time WINNING FELLOWSHIP improved to be racing to his inside and AMAZING SKY was unable to obtain cover. Trainer D E Ferraris stated that due to the horse having drawn 14, he instructed G Cheyne to ride AMAZING SKY quietly as he felt that if use was made of the horse to go forward, it would not be able to finish off the race. He further stated that he was mindful that were AMAZING SKY ridden to go forward and not show sufficient speed to lead, the horse would be left racing wide and without cover and he felt that it would not be in the horse’s best interests. When questioned regarding his riding of LUNAR REFLECTIONS, W M Lai stated that from barrier 12 he had been instructed to ride the horse quietly and to ensure that LUNAR REFLECTIONS was able to obtain cover. He said at its most recent start the horse was taken wider passing the 900 Metres which resulted in it racing without cover and consequently did not finish off the race as well as it had been hoped. He said shortly after the start he took LUNAR REFLECTIONS across behind runners, passing the 600 Metres he shifted LUNAR REFLECTIONS to race behind WINNING FELLOWSHIP with a view to coming to that horse’s outside. He added however passing the 500 Metres WINNING FELLOWSHIP was hard ridden to maintain its position and he elected rather than come to the outside of that horse and race behind AMAZING SKY to shift to the inside of WINNING FELLOWSHIP and obtain inside runs. He said near the 300 Metres he was obliged to check LUNAR REFLECTIONS away from the heels of JOYFUL WINNER which at this time was bumped by a runner to his inside, he commenced to ride LUNAR REFLECTIONS along vigorously hands and heels, however, as clear running was not available in front of him, he was not able to pull the whip on the horse. He said near the 100 Metres when obtaining a run between MASTER TOUCH and FORTUNE HAVEN, LUNAR REFLECTIONS was steadied away from the heels of MASTER TOUCH which shifted in slightly and then over the concluding stages LUNAR REFLECTIONS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUPERIOR UNIT. He said for these reasons LUNAR REFLECTIONS was not able to be fully tested in the Straight. W M Lai was advised that his riding of LUNAR REFLECTIONS, particularly his decision to go to the inside of WINNING FELLOWSHIP passing the 500 Metres, had come under notice and that in future he should ride his mounts in such a manner so as to ensure that wherever possible they obtain clear running. A veterinary inspection of LUNAR REFLECTIONS after the race did not show any significant findings. PENGLAI XIANZI, HUSSLER and SUPERIOR UNIT were sent for sampling.