11/06/2011  Shatin  Race 8

From a wide barrier, OUR DYNASTY was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, PROJECT RUNWAY failed to muster speed and consequently raced further back in the field than is usual. After the 1100 Metres, HAPPY SEVEN was left racing wide and without cover. In the Straight, PROJECT RUNWAY got its head on the side, hung in and proved difficult to ride. Over the concluding stages, NICE FOLKS was awkwardly placed behind the heels of ATHENIUM. Because of this, NICE FOLKS was not ridden out right to the end of the race. When questioned, M Du Plessis stated that he had been instructed to ride VIVA FREEDOM in the “one out one back position”, however, if the tempo of the race was not fast that it was available to him to allow VIVA FREEDOM to take up the lead. He said it had been decided to ride VIVA FREEDOM in this manner as the horse was lightly weighted and it was felt that PROJECT RUNWAY, the anticipated leader, would gain too much of an advantage were VIVA FREEDOM to be ridden back in the field as is normal. He said VIVA FREEDOM began only fairly and he rode that horse along for a short distance after the start to take up a forward position as instructed. He said shortly after the start he allowed VIVA FREEDOM to commence to shift across to race near the lead and he did not have to ride it along to obtain this position. He added that near the 1100 Metres VIVA FREEDOM was able to clear GOOD THINKER and as he was of the view that he would have had to make too much use of the horse to cross NEW VISION to his inside, he steadied VIVA FREEDOM so as the obtain the position outside and slightly behind that horse. He said when racing in this position, VIVA FREEDOM proved somewhat difficult to settle. He added in the early part of the Straight VIVA FREEDOM came under pressure, however, in the latter stages responded to his riding and finished off the race fairly. Trainer A Schutz advised the Stewards that he initially intended to have VIVA FREEDOM ridden from back in the field, however, due to the light weight and the stamina that the horse had shown in previous races, he did not believe it would be in the best interests of the horse to be giving too much start away to NEW VISION and PROJECT RUNWAY which he considered to be strong chances in the race. He said that he expected those horses would take up forward positions and would be very difficult to make ground on if they were allowed a “soft lead”. He added he did note after the race that VIVA FREEDOM had its tongue over the bit. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY SEVEN after the race did not show any significant findings. NEW VISION, LEGEND EXPRESS and ATHENIUM were sent for sampling.