14/10/2007  Shatin  Race 1

CHINESE BOY BOY and MULLAAD were slow to begin. In the early stages, from the outside barrier, SUPER FANTASY was taken across behind runners. Also in the early stages, due to the pace of the race, a number of runners proved difficult to settle, the worse affected being SWEET BABY, DANABAA and SURE HERO. After the 900 Metres, FOREVER RICHES was hampered and carried wider by HARRY HARRY which was shifted out away from the heels of MULLAAD which at this time was steadied when awkwardly placed between CHINESE BOY BOY and SURE HERO which when proving difficult to settle shifted in. No action was taken. At the 500 Metres, CHINESE BOY BOY was steadied away from the heels of DANABAA. Also at the 500 Metres, SURE HERO was steadied away from the heels of MASTER ABLE. For a short distance after straightening, MULLAAD was steadied when unable to obtain clear running and after the 400 Metres was again steadied and shifted to the outside of SURE HERO. From on straightening until the 200 Metres, SURE HERO was not able to obtain clear running and as a consequence was not properly tested. At the 150 Metres, S K Sit (FOREVER RICHES) had some difficulty in changing the whip into his right hand. Near the 100 Metres, MASTER MASTER, which was giving ground, became unbalanced when awkwardly placed outside CHINESE BOY BOY which shifted out. At the 100 Metres, SURE HERO was steadied when awkwardly placed between SERIOUS PLAY and MULLAAD. Over the final 100 Metres, CHINESE BOY BOY had difficulty obtaining clear running. Throughout the race, MASTER ABLE travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, G Boss (HARRY HARRY) explained close to the finishing line WAIT FOR ME (Apprentice C W Wong ) shifted in across his running when not quite clear. He said because of this he was not able to ride HARRY HARRY right out to the end of the race. The explanation of G Boss was accepted. Subsequently Apprentice Wong was advised to exercise greater care. F Coetzee (DANABAA) explained his mount through immaturity is still very green. He said the horse became unsettled at noises made when the field was in the barriers, however, began well and then in the early stages travelled keenly. He said in the middle stages MASTER MASTER which was racing to his outside was inclined to lay in and DANABAA was reluctant to hold its position inside that runner. He said when SOLAR EMPIRE, the leader, quickened approaching the Home Turn, he endeavoured to improve his position behind that horse on the inside of MASTER MASTER, however, DANABAA was reluctant to take this run. He said because of this on straightening he switched DANABAA to the outside of MASTER MASTER in the hope of obtaining clear running, however, as he did this SWEET BABY held its position to his outside and as a consequence he had difficulty obtaining clear running for the major part of the Straight. S Dye (DECAGONAL) said he had been told in the Parade Ring that the horse when travelling in a forward position at its recent starts while carrying blinkers, it over-raced and as a consequence did not finish the races off as hoped. He said because of this the blinkers were today removed from DECAGONAL and he was instructed if he was able to settle the horse, he should do so and have it travelling where it was comfortable. He said if DECAGONAL again over-raced, he was advised to allow the horse to stride forward. He said DECAGONAL began well, he immediately endeavoured to settle the horse and shift across behind runners. He said when DECAGONAL relaxed underneath him, he continued to race towards the rear. He said after the 1200 Metres FOREVER RICHES shifted away from the rail in front of him, however, he was reluctant to improve his position on the inside of runners at that time as in his opinion if he had commenced to ride along, DECAGONAL would have started to over-race. He said in the middle stages he raced on the inside of the winner, WAIT FOR ME. He said in the Straight as a result of being ridden quietly and having DECAGONAL settled, the horse in his opinion closed the race off nicely. DECAGONAL was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of DECAGONAL after the race did not show any significant findings. WAIT FOR ME and SWEET BABY were sent for sampling.