05/10/2014  Shatin  Race 9

NEW STAMINA’s entrance onto the track was delayed as the horse required its right front plate to be refitted. NAUGHTY BABY shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of TWIN DELIGHT which became unbalanced. From wide barriers, PIKACHU and NEW STAMINA were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching and passing the 1000 Metres, SNOWHOOVES proved difficult to settle. After the 1000 Metres, ADDOLE got its head on the side, shifted in and bumped SECRET COMMAND. Then near the 900 Metres, ADDOLE raced in restricted room between SECRET COMMAND which shifted out and ALL GREAT FRIENDS which shifted in marginally. At the 600 Metres, PIKACHU lost ground when racing close to the heels of ADDOLE. In this incident, PIKACHU shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of SNOWHOOVES, resulting in that horse becoming unbalanced. SUPREME FALCON had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Over the final 200 Metres, NAUGHTY BABY hung in and proved difficult to ride. Over the concluding stages, TWIN DELIGHT was checked away from the heels of NUMERO UNO. Because of this, TWIN DELIGHT was not able to be fully tested in the run to the finishing line. Close to the finishing line, COMEBACK KID was steadied away from the heels of NEW STAMINA which, when closing off the race strongly, was taken out by TWIN DELIGHT which was awkwardly placed outside the heels of WINFULL PATROL when that horse shifted ground under pressure. For the majority of the race, ALL GREAT FRIENDS and NO MONEY NO TALK travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that he had to make some use of TWIN DELIGHT in the early stages to obtain a forward position. He said approaching the first turn he was left racing in a three wide position and because of this near the 900 Metres he had to ride TWIN DELIGHT along to cross NUMERO UNO to his inside. He said after shifting in to a one-off position, he noted that WINFULL PATROL was proving difficult to settle and as he felt that he had made enough use of TWIN DELIGHT to that point of the race, he was reluctant to ride the horse to cross WINFULL PATROL as he believed that it would then not be able to finish off its race. SUPREME FALCON and SECRET COMMAND were sent for sampling.