09/01/2016  Shatin  Race 6

From a wide barrier, WIN ALONG was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After being left racing wide in the early stages, MIDNITE PROMISE was allowed to improve its position to race outside the lead after the 1000 Metres. After the 900 Metres, HAPPY AND HEALTHY was left racing wide and without cover. PRINCE FALCON had difficulty obtaining clear running until the 200 Metres. Passing the 400 Metres, CASH COURIER shifted out and bumped KEEN TACTICS. For some distance after the 400 Metres, CASH COURIER and KEEN TACTICS made contact, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. Approaching the 250 Metres, CASH COURIER attempted to improve between HAPPY AND HEALTHY and ONE OF A KIND where there was insufficient room, resulting in CASH COURIER bumping the hindquarters of ONE OF A KIND which became unbalanced. CASH COURIER was then shifted to the inside of HAPPY AND HEALTHY passing the 250 Metres. Near the 150 Metres, ONE OF A KIND was bumped by HAPPY AND HEALTHY which shifted out after initially being brushed by CASH COURIER. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that it had been expected MISTER MARC would be able to use its natural speed to obtain the lead. He said MISTER MARC has been able to lead its races over distances shorter than the 1800 Metres of today's race and therefore it was anticipated that the horse would have little difficulty in being able to lead without having to be ridden along. He said as it was anticipated that the horse would have natural speed to lead, he was asked not to ride it along in the early stages to ensure that it would not over-race having regard to the distance of today's race. He said MISTER MARC began well and he allowed the horse to improve its position in the early stages of its own accord. He said however that a number of horses, which were drawn more favourably than MISTER MARC, were ridden aggressively to obtain forward positions and therefore he would have been obliged to ride MISTER MARC along in an endeavour to improve its position to cross MIDNITE PROMISE immediately to his inside and then other runners drawn closer to the rail. He added as the tempo of the race in the early stages was good, he elected to attempt to obtain a position with cover passing the 1600 Metres. He said when MIDNIGHT PROMISE stayed wide after the 1100 Metres, he allowed MISTER MARC to improve its position in order to cross ROUGE ET BLANC and obtain the lead. He said when he shifted in to race outside ROUGE ET BLANC approaching the 1000 Metres, that horse was allowed to maintain its position to his inside, therefore he remained racing to the outside of ROUGE ET BLANC. He said passing the 900 Metres he was able to obtain cover when MIDNITE PROMISE, which had continued to race wide, shifted in to race outside ROUGE ET BLANC. When questioned, N Rawiller stated it was explained to him that MIDNIGHT PROMISE has been missing the start in a number of its races and accordingly if it did so today, he should ride the horse in about a midfield position or towards midfield. He said however that Mr W Y So, the trainer of MIDNIGHT PROMISE, advised him that if the horse, which had not started since November 2015, began well, he could obtain a forward position but with cover if possible. He said MIDNIGHT PROMISE began well and at no stage in the early stages did he have to ride his mount along. He said he allowed the horse to obtain a forward position whilst at all times looking for a position with cover. He said due to the circumstances of the race he was not able to obtain cover and accordingly after the 1000 Metres he allowed his mount to improve its position to be racing outside ROUGE ET BLANC. He confirmed that it was not anticipated that MIDNIGHT PROMISE would lead in today's race. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of ROUGE ET BLANC, Z Purton explained it was anticipated that MISTER MARC would lead which would allow ROUGE ET BLANC to race to that horse's outside. He said he rode his mount along in the early stages and was able to take up a forward position near the 1600 Metres. He said the tempo of the race in the middle stages was somewhat faster than he had hoped, nonetheless ROUGE ET BLANC appeared to travel comfortably and he expected the horse to respond to his riding in the Straight given that it had raced over the 2200 Metres at its most recent start. He said however that ROUGE ET BLANC came under pressure in the early part of the Straight and, despite being fully tested, was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to respond to his riding. A veterinary inspection of ROUGE ET BLANC immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of HEALTH WISE immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm and had bled from both nostrils. Before being allowed to race again, HEALTH WISE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of PRINCE FALCON and HAPPY AND HEALTHY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ROUGE ET BLANC, MIDNITE PROMISE and MONSIEUR MOGOK were sent for sampling.