04/12/2010  Shatin  Race 3

As the start was effected, VANQUISH DELIGHT lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently lost ground. RAIN OF THUNDER was crowded for room at the start between AMAZING CHOICE and HEALTHY BLUEBERRY which shifted out. In the early stages, WIN MORE was left racing wide and without cover and after the 1200 Metres was allowed to stride forward into a position closer to the rail. Over the concluding stages, GOLD RUSH was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WIN MORE and because of this was not ridden out to the end of the race as it normally would be. When questioned, G Mossé stated that he had been instructed to ride BEAUTIFUL CHOICE at the rear to ensure that the horse was able to see out the 1800 Metres of today`s race. He said accordingly he took hold of BEAUTIFUL CHOICE in the early stages to get the horse to settle, however, shortly after the start BEAUTIFUL CHOICE commenced to over-race and would not relax. He said passing the 1400 Metres he was racing in a position one horse off the fence to the inside of WIN-A-LOT and BEAUTIFUL CHOICE was over-racing badly. He said he attempted to steady BEAUTIFUL CHOICE to have it race more generously, however, despite his efforts, the horse continued to race fiercely and for some distance near the 1200 Metres was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WIN-A-LOT. He said travelling along the Back Straight BEAUTIFUL CHOICE commenced to travel more generously, however, near the 600 Metres again commenced to over-race and had to be steadied away from the heels of WIN-A-LOT. He said he considered at this point shifting to the outside of WIN-A-LOT to improve his position, however, he felt he would have been taken unnecessarily wide when horses to his inside fanned out rounding the Home Turn. He said for this reason he allowed BEAUTIFUL CHOICE to remain racing behind WIN-A-LOT and improved to the inside of that horse when it shifted out rounding the Home Turn. He said in the early part of the Straight he had some difficulty obtaining clear running behind BREAKING POINT which was giving ground, he shifted to the outside of that horse and placed BEAUTIFUL CHOICE under full pressure. He said considering the manner in which BEAUTIFUL CHOICE travelled during the race, the horse closed off the race well. Trainer S Woods confirmed that he instructed G Mossé to ride BEAUTIFUL CHOICE at the rear of the field to ensure that the horse was able to see out the 1800 Metres of today`s race which it was attempting for the first time on the All Weather Track for his stable. He said he felt that were BEAUTIFUL CHOICE to be ridden in a forward position today as has been the case on occasions in the past, the horse would not run out the distance of the race and therefore BEAUTIFUL CHOICE`s best interests would be served in having the horse ridden conservatively. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTIFUL CHOICE after the race did not show any significant findings. HEALTHY BLUEBERRY and THE ONLY KID were sent for sampling.