26/03/2017  Shatin  Race 10

As the start was effected, ULTIMATE GLORY bounded in the air, resulting in H W Lai’s right foot being dislodged from the iron. H W Lai was unable to regain the use of his right iron until passing the 1500 Metres. This resulted in ULTIMATE GLORY racing well back in the field. ISHVARA stumbled at the start. From the outside barrier, EASY HEDGE was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Passing the 750 Metres, SUPER SIXTEEN broke down in its right front leg and was retired out of the race. MAGNETISM, which was following, was checked and shifted out abruptly away from the heels of SUPER SIXTEEN. When questioned, U Rispoli stated that he had been asked to ride LOOK ERAS behind the speed if possible. He said it was anticipated that CHEERFUL BOY and GO BEAUTY GO would lead and he was asked to attempt to obtain a position behind those horses. He said in accordance with his instructions he immediately commenced to shift LOOK ERAS across in the early stages and restrained the horse approaching and passing the 1500 Metres in an attempt to obtain a trailing position behind GO BEAUTY GO which had been hard ridden out of the barriers to take up a forward position. He said despite restraining his mount after the 1500 Metres, LOOK ERAS commenced to prove difficult to settle and would not respond to his attempts to steady the horse. He said passing the 1400 Metres he was aware that the tempo of the race was increasing, therefore he had a look to his inside to establish whether it was still available for him to settle behind GO BEAUTY GO. He said when he became aware that this position was available, he again attempted to steady LOOK ERAS, however, the horse continued to prove difficult to settle when racing directly to the outside of GO BEAUTY GO and he was not able to restrain the horse. He added passing the 1300 Metres he directed LOOK ERAS out away from GO BEAUTY GO as he felt that racing directly outside GO BEAUTY GO may have been firing up LOOK ERAS. He said, despite shifting LOOK ERAS out at this time, the horse would not respond to his attempts to steady and therefore he allowed LOOK ERAS to improve its position forward of GO BEAUTY GO in the hope that that horse would be steadied and take a trailing position behind CHEERFUL BOY which would allow LOOK ERAS to shift out and race outside that horse. He said however that GO BEAUTY GO continued to hold its position behind LOOK ERAS and CHEERFUL BOY with LOOK ERAS being obliged to race three wide and without cover in a fast run section. He said it was not until after making the turn passing the 900 Metres that he was able to steady the horse sufficiently to obtain a trailing position, however, by this time LOOK ERAS had already done too much work and therefore was not able to finish off the race. When questioned, Apprentice H N Wong (GO BEAUTY GO) stated that he had been asked to lead if possible, however, if CHEERFUL BOY was ridden to obtain a forward position as anticipated, he should race outside that horse. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode his mount positively in the early stages to ensure that he obtained a position outside CHEERFUL BOY which was also being ridden to obtain the lead. He said passing the 1400 Metres he commenced to steady the tempo on GO BEAUTY GO in order to remain racing to the outside of CHEERFUL BOY as he did not want to improve his position to be racing forward of that horse. He said however that at this time LOOK ERAS improved to the outside of GO BEAUTY GO which caused GO BEAUTY GO to travel too keenly. He said for a considerable distance after the 1300 Metres he attempted to steady GO BEAUTY GO to obtain a trailing position as he was aware that the race was being run at too fast a tempo, however, the racing manners of GO BEAUTY GO did not allow him the opportunity to do so. He added due to his endeavours to restrain the horse, GO BEAUTY GO shifted ground on a number of occasions approaching and passing the 1200 Metres and he believed that he would have had to severely check the horse to be any chance of obtaining a trailing positon. After considering Apprentice Wong’s explanation and after viewing the videos, the Stewards accepted that GO BEAUTY GO was proving very difficult to settle at this time, however, he was advised that in similar circumstances he should make every endeavour to rate his mounts so that they are given the opportunity to close off the race as best as they are able. A veterinary inspection of ISHVARA immediately following the race confirmed the horse to be a “roarer” which had previously been reported. A veterinary inspection of GO BEAUTY GO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PENANG HALL and CITRON SPIRIT were sent for sampling. Samples were also taken from SUPER SIXTEEN.