09/01/2011  Shatin  Race 10

As the start was effected, DRAGON FIGHTER lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently was slow to begin. From wide barriers, NUGGET WARRIOR and TRIUMPHANT COLOURS were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. In the early stages, BUSINESS AS USUAL proved very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions. Passing the 1200 Metres, DANZULU was steadied when racing in restricted room between GRAND DANCER and DRAGON FIGHTER, both of which shifted ground. MILITARY MOVE, which was following, was steadied as a consequence and at this time proved difficult to settle. ALWAYS SOMETHING proved difficult to settle in the middle stages and then was held up for clear running until passing the 300 Metres. Passing the 300 Metres, EXPRESS WIN was held up for clear running behind TURF EXPRESS and inside NEW GLORY, both of which were commencing to give ground. NUGGET WARRIOR was unable to obtain clear running until near the 200 Metres. Close to the finishing line, Apprentice T H So (EXPRESS WIN) dropped his left rein. Throughout the race, TURF EXPRESS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Apprentice K C Leung (BERIO) stated that in the early stages BERIO did not show the pace that it had done when he had ridden the horse previously. He added for this reason it took BERIO some time to obtain a forward position. He said after passing the 1000 Metres he rode BERIO along to clear runners to his inside with a view to obtaining a position on the fence. He said as he was about to shift across to the fence, he received a precautionary call from D Whyte, the rider of PAGANINI’S SOUL. He said as he felt that he was not sufficiently clear to shift in, he corrected BERIO and remained racing one horse off the fence. He said he was reluctant to continue to ride BERIO along to clear PAGANINI’S SOUL as he had to make more use of the horse in the early stages to obtain the lead than he otherwise would have wished. When questioned, C W Wong stated that he had been instructed to allow NEW GLORY to use its natural speed to take it into a forward position but not to ride it along in the early stages. He said it was felt that BERIO, which had drawn inside NEW GLORY, would go forward in the race and NEW GLORY would be able to shift across with that horse. He said in the early stages BERIO took some time to clear runners to his inside and he felt that he would have had to ride NEW GLORY aggressively to clear TURF EXPRESS to his inside. He said for this reason he elected to remain racing to the outside of that horse which resulted in NEW GLORY racing wide and without cover. C W Wong was advised that he had previously been placed on notice regarding the standard of his riding and that at all times he should ride his mounts in such a fashion to avoid covering unnecessary ground. Y T Cheng, the rider of DRAGON FIGHTER, will be questioned regarding the disappointing performance of that horse prior to the first race at the Happy Valley racemeeting to be conducted next Wednesday, 12 January 2011. A veterinary inspection of DRAGON FIGHTER after the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that TURF EXPRESS had lost its right hind plate. PAGANINI’S SOUL and MILITARY MOVE were sent for sampling.