18/10/2015  Shatin  Race 5

PACKING SPECIAL was withdrawn on 16.10.15 by order of the Stewards (retirement) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter HAPPY AGILITY (J Moreira). C K Tong (BORN TO WIN) explained that after the blindfold was removed from BORN TO WIN in the barriers, the horse became fractious and then as the start was effected sat back, resulting in it being slow to begin. Before being allowed to race again, BORN TO WIN will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. SURREAL, DANEWIN EXPRESS and ONE OF A KIND began awkwardly. Near the 1300 Metres, HAPPY AGILITY was momentarily crowded for room between GERONIMO MEADOW and LUCKY BALL which shifted in away from the heels of NEVER BETTER. After the 1200 Metres, SURREAL got its head up on a number of occasions when proving difficult to settle. For some distance approaching and passing the 1100 Metres, HAPPY AGILITY got its head up when being checked away from the heels of RAGING BULL. Also passing the 1100 Metres, BORN TO WIN, which had been ridden to make up lost ground, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ONE OF A KIND. In the early and middle stages, GOOD FOR YOU travelled wide and without cover. After the 500 Metres, NEVER BETTER got it head on the side and hung out and as a consequence bumped the hindquarters of MOTIF which became unbalanced. When questioned regarding his riding of GERONIMO MEADOW, T H So stated that he had been asked to ride the horse in a position just in front of midfield given that it had drawn barrier 3. He said RAGING BULL, which had drawn barrier 2, was a horse that he expected to take up a forward position in the race and he expected possibly to obtain a trailing position behind that horse. He said as GERONIMO MEADOW had been slow to begin in a number of its races, he rode his mount along from the barriers to ensure that the horse would begin well enough to be able to take advantage of a position behind RAGING BULL should that horse go forward as he expected it would. He said RAGING BULL was not ridden along as aggressively as he had expected and after he rode GERONIMO MEADOW along in the early stages, he found himself positioned outside that horse in a three wide position. He said approaching the 1300 Metres he attempted to steady GERONIMO MEADOW to shift in behind RAGING BULL, however, HAPPY AGILITY was ridden along from behind GERONIMO MEADOW and was able to improve its position to follow RAGING BULL which resulted in GERONIMO MEADOW being left racing in a three wide position without cover. He added near the 600 Metres GERONIMO MEADOW was taken wider again by DANEWIN EXPRESS which shifted out. He said whilst GERONIMO MEADOW had been left racing very wide after beginning from barrier 3, he felt that RAGING BULL not being ridden along in the early stages had played a significant part in GERONIMO MEADOW being left racing in this position. Trainer C W Chang confirmed the instructions given to Jockey So and stated that he was disappointed in the fact that GERONIMO MEADOW had not been able to utilize its favourable barrier and was left racing wide. T H So was severely reprimanded and advised that his riding of GERONIMO MEADOW in the early stages was not up to the standard expected of a senior jockey in Hong Kong. He was further advised that he must ride his mounts in such a manner so that they do not cover unnecessary ground which therefore allows his mounts to finish off their races as best as they are able. A veterinary inspection of RAGING BULL immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, RAGING BULL will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HAPPY AGILITY and GERONIMO MEADOW were sent for sampling.