11/01/2014  Shatin  Race 4

At declaration time, Apprentice K C Ng was declared as the rider of both REAL GENERAL and EASY AHEAD. It was established that Apprentice Ng had a firm commitment to ride REAL GENERAL. As such, the Stewards permitted Apprentice C Y Lui to be substituted as the rider of EASY AHEAD. For this declaration error, Trainer L Ho was fined $2,000. WIN IT was slow to begin. Shortly after the start, CROATIA was checked and EASY AHEAD (Apprentice C Y Lui) crowded for room inside SUISSE D'OR (M Demuro) which shifted in. M Demuro was advised that whilst he had made an effort to shift SUISSE D'OR out and relieve the tightening to runners to his inside, nonetheless he would be expected to react with more urgency than he did on this occasion. M Demuro reported that he had been instructed to lead on SUISSE D'OR if possible, however, the horse lost momentum when he had to shift it out abruptly to relieve the tightening to his inside. He said because of this it then took some time for SUISSE D'OR to work its way into a forward position, however, was obliged to travel wide and without cover throughout the race and outside the lead in the middle stages. Apprentice Lui also reported that it had been intended for EASY AHEAD to be ridden behind the speed if possible, however, due to being crowded for room in this incident, the horse was obliged to race much further back in the field than had been intended. From the outside barrier, TWIN TURBO was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Near the 1500 Metres, YOUNG TALENT was steadied away from the heels of SHANTARAAM which shifted out. After the 1200 Metres, SHANTARAAM was awkwardly placed close to the heels of EXPEDITE. Approaching the 1100 Metres, EXPEDITE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FOREVER AHEAD. VERDANE was held up for clear running behind REAL GENERAL in the early part of the Straight. EXPEDITE was badly held up for clear running until passing the 300 Metres. Over the concluding stages, EASY AHEAD was awkwardly placed outside the heels of FOREVER AHEAD. D Whyte reported that after striking interference soon after the start, CROATIA travelled keenly in the middle stages and got its head up on a number of occasions. He said whilst the slow tempo of the race did not suit CROATIA which was positioned towards the rear of the field, nonetheless the horse was somewhat disappointing in the manner in which it finished off the race. A veterinary inspection of CROATIA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. EXPEDITE and VERDANE were sent for sampling.