16/01/2011  Shatin  Race 8

BUCCANEER was slow to begin and then shortly after the start was steadied when crowded for room between QUANTUM EXPRESS and FLYING CHINA, both of which shifted ground. From a wide barrier, TOM’S EIGHTH was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. After obtaining cover approaching the 1000 Metres, PROJECT RUNWAY again raced without cover when taken wider by QUANTUM EXPRESS which shifted out near the 800 Metres. CHATER D’CAT raced wide and without cover until after passing the 1000 Metres. After entering the Back Straight, both MY WHISKY and EASY AHEAD proved difficult to settle. Near the 800 Metres, ISTIDE became unbalanced when bumped by ROYAL PUMPKIN which shifted in momentarily. KING OF HEARTS, which was following ROYAL PUMPKIN, shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse and in doing so bumped CHATER D’CAT on two occasions. After this, CHATER D’CAT again raced without cover. Approaching the 600 Metres, KING OF HEARTS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ROYAL PUMPKIN. Rounding the Home Turn, SPECTACULAR AWARD and ISTIDE were severely checked inside PROJECT RUNWAY which at this time got its head on the side and hung in badly despite the efforts of its rider, D Whyte. D Whyte stated that PROJECT RUNWAY had come off the bit prior to the 600 Metres and after hanging in quite badly rounding the Home Turn continued to hang in when giving ground abruptly in the Straight. As this is the second occasion that PROJECT RUNWAY has hung in badly in its races, the Stewards ruled that the horse must perform satisfactorily in a series of consecutive official barrier trials around a bend prior to racing again. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of QUANTUM EXPRESS, Z Purton stated that he made a decision to race away from the fence making the turn after the 1200 Metres as he felt that EASY AHEAD was being steadied to allow MY WHISKY to improve. He said when MY WHISKY remained racing outside EASY AHEAD, he allowed QUANTUM EXPRESS to maintain its position behind that horse. He said QUANTUM EXPRESS travelled well until near the 700 Metres, however, at this point came under heavy pressure. He said he rode QUANTUM EXPRESS along aggressively from this point to have it respond to his riding, however, QUANTUM EXPRESS continued to give ground. He said although the horse wanted to hang in up the Straight, it was well beaten at this time. He added that, in his opinion, QUANTUM EXPRESS is not as effective as in this higher grade. When questioned regarding the improved performance of NEEDLES AND THREAD, Trainer T W Leung stated that, in his opinion, the horse had benefited from this race and the most recent race being spaced. He said prior to that he ran NEEDLES AND THREAD in races relatively close together and he felt that the horse had improved by having a longer break between runs. He also said that although he was satisfied with the jockey’s handling of NEEDLES AND THREAD at its most recent start, he believed that the horse had benefited by B Doyle riding it as he had previously been successful on the horse. A veterinary inspection of PROJECT RUNWAY and QUANTUM EXPRESS after the race did not show any significant findings. CHATER D’CAT, NEEDLES AND THREAD and ROYAL PUMPKIN were sent for sampling.