12/01/2013  Shatin  Race 9

When parading behind the barriers, the hood carried by SMILING WATCH required replacing. LUCKY OMENS began awkwardly. From a wide barrier, SMILING WATCH was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. After the 1100 Metres, LONGWAH INVINCIBLE was awkwardly placed outside the heels of DISCIPLES TWELVE which shifted out. After this, LONGWAH INVINCIBLE was left racing wide and without cover. Making the turn after the 900 Metres, LITTLE WIND became unbalanced when momentarily crowded for room inside FLAGSHIP SHINE. Passing the 100 Metres, HO IN ONE got its head on the side and shifted in towards FLAGSHIP SHINE. Then over the concluding stages, HO IN ONE again got its head on the side and shifted in under pressure. When questioned, O Doleuze stated that, from barrier 10, with the rail in the C+3 position, Mr R Gibson, the trainer of SUPER CAGA, expressed concern that the horse may be left racing wide if it was to be ridden into a forward position. He said for this reason he had been instructed to shift SUPER CAGA across behind runners in the early stages and obtain a position with cover and it was felt that this would be behind midfield. He said although SUPER CAGA began well, in accordance with his instructions, shortly after the start he commenced to shift the horse across behind runners. He said he had hoped to obtain a position behind YUE LU TREASURE in about a midfield position, however, when that horse did not show early speed, SUPER CAGA was left racing towards the rear of the field. He added that SUPER CAGA travelled satisfactorily until rounding the Home Turn at which time the horse commenced to come under pressure. He said that despite riding SUPER CAGA along in the Straight, the horse did not respond to his riding and did not finish off the race as expected. Trainer R Gibson confirmed the instructions given to O Doleuze on SUPER CAGA. He said notwithstanding that SUPER CAGA had been ridden back in the field today because of the circumstances of the race, he felt that the horse was extremely disappointing in its failure to respond to O Doleuze’s riding at any stage. A veterinary inspection of SUPER CAGA after the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, D Whyte reported that DISCIPLES TWELVE was making an abnormal respiratory noise during the race. A veterinary inspection of DISCIPLES TWELVE including an endoscopic examination after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of YUE LU TREASURE after the race did not show any significant findings. FLAGSHIP SHINE, LOMBARDI and HO IN ONE were sent for sampling.