27/05/2015  Shatin  Race 8

SICHUAN VIGOUR began awkwardly. HYPERSONIC was crowded for room on jumping between WINNING LEADER and SUNNY YING which shifted out. After this, SUNNY YING was ridden along to obtain a forward position, however, failed to muster speed. From wide barriers, VANILLA and SANTA FE SUN were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 450 Metres, HYPERSONIC was awkwardly placed behind SICHUAN VIGOUR which was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn. Approaching the 400 Metres, SUNNY YING was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WINNING LEADER. SANTA FE SUN had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. At the 200 Metres, OBLITERATOR got its head on the side, shifted out and raced tight inside SANTE FE SUN. Throughout the race, GONNA RUN travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. Apprentice H N Wong (CHATER DREAM) was cautioned against extending his right elbow out excessively away from his body. The performances of GONNA RUN and MY NAME IS BOND, which finished tailed out, were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, GONNA RUN and MY NAME IS BOND 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 the disappointing performance of OBLITERATOR, D Whyte stated that he had been asked to ride the horse in a forward position to overcome its wide barrier. He said after beginning well he was able to cross runners to his inside and shift in to race outside the early speed with ease. He added after the 1400 Metres he was able to steady his mount and obtain a trailing position behind MY NAME IS BOND. He said OBLITERATOR continued to travel comfortably in the middle stages and when MY NAME IS BOND came under pressure after the 600 Metres, he shifted his mount to the outside of that horse and commenced to improve his position into the race. He said OBLITERATOR went from travelling strongly to coming off the bridle within a number of strides and then despite being ridden out did not respond as he expected. He said OBLITERATOR was inclined to lay out under pressure in the Straight, however, the horse was already well beaten at this time. He said whilst OBLITERATOR, which was having its first race start on the All Weather surface, had previously trialed well on that surface when ridden by him, the horse had not been placed under pressure in those trials which was unlike race conditions. He said, in his opinion, OBLITERATOR has an action which is better suited to racing on turf and he strongly recommended to connections to consider returning the horse to the turf surface having in mind the manner in which OBLITERATOR performed tonight. A veterinary inspection of OBLITERATOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of OBLITERATOR, a favourite for tonight’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, OBLITERATOR will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of MEDALLIST immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. OBLITERATOR, SICHUAN VIGOUR and VANILLA were sent for sampling.