28/12/2014  Shatin  Race 7

On arrival at the Start, JUST ACE, which was reported to have kicked a rail after leaving the Parade Ring, was examined by the Veterinary Surgeon who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. WILD BOY was difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, WILD BOY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. STREET CAT was slow to begin. From a wide barrier, AMAZING ALWAYS was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 950 Metres, BEST JADE TRIUMPH was crowded for room between STREET CAT and THUNDER FLYER which got it head on the side and shifted in despite the efforts of its rider, M L Yeung. After this, BEST JADE TRIUMPH continued to race tight between STREET CAT and THUNDER FLYER and near the 850 Metres was steadied when unable to maintain its position inside THUNDER FLYER which was racing tight inside MEGA CHAMPION. Rounding the Home Turn, THUNDER FLYER and MEGA CHAMPION raced tight as THUNDER FLYER shifted out to obtain clear running. Passing the 400 Metres, PENNY LANE (M Chadwick) shifted out away from the heels of SNOW SLIDER and bumped O’SOCOOLE which then shifted out and inconvenienced G-ONE LEADER. M Chadwick was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground. Near the 250 Metres, HAPPY CHAMPION was awkwardly placed outside the heels of WILD BOY which shifted out when giving ground. The performance of JUST ACE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, JUST ACE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding his riding of SNOW SLIDER, H W Lai stated that he had to ride his mount along in the early stages to cross runners to his inside from his wide barrier. He said after the 1000 Metres he was able to shift across to race outside WILD BOY. He said as SNOW SLIDER had previously shown a tendency to over-race and prove difficult to settle, he was reluctant to apply too much restrain to SNOW SLIDER after obtaining a position outside WILD BOY even though this resulted in the race being run at a faster tempo than he had hoped. He added at this time, given SNOW SLIDER’s previous history, he did not want the horse over-racing and proving difficult to manage by restraining it too aggressively. After the race, O Doleuze stated that he had been asked to take up a forward position on TOM’S CHARM, but due to the tempo of the race TOM’S CHARM was required to race further back in the field than had been intended. He said nonetheless TOM’S CHARM travelled comfortably in about a midfield position and after being shifted to the outside of G-ONE LEADER rounding the Home Turn, he expected TOM’S CHARM to quicken well and finish off the race. He added however TOM’S CHARM came under pressure at the entrance to the Straight and then, despite being ridden out, did not close off the race and was disappointing. A veterinary inspection of TOM’S CHARM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of WILD BOY and JUST ACE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MEGA CHAMPION immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, MEGA CHAMPION will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. AMAZING ALWAYS and THUNDER FLYER were sent for sampling.