27/09/2014  Shatin  Race 6

As the start was effected, SEMPITERNAL, which was fractious in the barriers, reared and lost ground. MAGICAL BEAM began only fairly. STAR MAJESTIC was slow to begin and was then steadied away from the heels of SEA SMOKE which shifted out. Shortly after the start, UNIQUE JOYOUS was steadied away from the heels of DOUBLE DRAGON which shifted in. UNIQUE JOYOUS was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From the outside barrier, GLORIOUS AVENUE was taken across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1100 Metres, WINNING BOY got its head up when being steadied to obtain cover behind STAR MAJESTIC. Rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, STAR MAJESTIC raced tight between WINNING BOY and RAZOR QUEST. Then near the 300 Metres, STAR MAJESTIC and RAZOR QUEST raced in restricted room between WINNING BOY and MAGICAL BEAM which shifted out to obtain clear running. Throughout the race, DOUBLE DRAGON travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he had been asked to ride SEA SMOKE in a forward position. He said in the early stages he had to ride his mount along to initially cross RAZOR QUEST and then BEAUTY JOURNEY which he was able to achieve near the 1100 Metres. He said after shifting in to race outside POLYMER WIN, he attempted to steady SEA SMOKE with a view to allowing DOUBLE DRAGON, which was racing to his outside, to cross his mount which would provide SEA SMOKE with cover. He added however that SEA SMOKE commenced to travel very keenly and when DOUBLE DRAGON was not ridden forward of SEA SMOKE, he was content to allow SEA SMOKE to race outside and slightly behind POLYMER WIN. When questioned, N Callan stated that, from a wide barrier, he had to make considerable use of DOUBLE DRAGON in the early stages to obtain a forward position as instructed. He said when YOU KNOW I WIN was steadied to obtain cover after the 1100 Metres, he was left racing in a three wide position outside SEA SMOKE which itself was racing outside POLYMER WIN. He said as he saw that the rider of SEA SMOKE was attempting to steady that horse, he did consider pressing on with DOUBLE DRAGON into the outright lead, however, he felt that the race was being run at a quicker than standard tempo and given the amount of work DOUBLE DRAGON had had to do in the early stages, he did not believe it was in the best interests of the horse to then be ridden along in an attempt to cross those runners to his inside as he was of the view that DOUBLE DRAGON would then not be able to finish off the race were it to be ridden in this manner. A veterinary inspection of DOUBLE DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. STAR MAJESTIC, UNIQUE JOYOUS and BEAUTY JOURNEY were sent for sampling.