03/11/2007  Shatin  Race 9

On jumping, FIVE GRAINS was steadied when crowded for room between FORTUNE WARRIOR and NEVER LOOK BACK. In the early and middle stages, NEVER LOOK BACK prove difficult to settle. At the 700 Metres, FIRM OFFER got its head up and became unbalanced when proving difficult to settle and was being steadied away from the heels of FIRST AMONG EQUALS. After the 700 Metres, GALLANT LION, which was proving difficult to settle when being ridden in a rearward position, was carried wider by FORTUNE WARRIOR. After this, GALLANT LION, which was racing without cover and was inclined to hang out, continued to prove difficult to settle and moved forward. For a considerable distance after the 400 Metres, NEVER LOOK BACK was held up and unable to obtain clear running. Throughout the race, LU YUE travelled wide and without cover. Mr C W Chang, trainer of FIRST AMONG EQUALS, which was having its first race start for almost 11 months, said in his opinion the horse was fresh leading into today’s race, therefore he instructed A Delpech, the horse’s rider, from a good barrier to allow the horse to travel in a more forward position than is usual. He said he considered to attempt to have FIRST AMONG EQUALS ridden in a rearward position as is normal would result in the horse proving very difficult to settle in what he anticipated would be a slowly run race and this would be detrimental to its chances. He did say as FIRST AMONG EQUALS’ preparation progresses, it will be his intention to have the horse ridden more quietly. C K Tong (WIN A DOZEN) said he had been instructed to ride the horse quietly today. He said it had been explained to him WIN A DOZEN had been disappointing in its two previous race starts in Hong Kong when being ridden forward. He said today when being ridden quietly WIN A DOZEN had not weakened in the manner in which it had done at its previous starts. When questioned regarding the poor performance of WALKONTHEWILDSIDE, O Doleuze was not able to offer any explanation for the poor performance of WALKONTHEWILDSIDE. He said the horse was slightly more nervous than is usual in the barriers today, however, enjoyed a comfortable run throughout the race. He said the horse failed to respond to his riding after straightening in the manner in which he had hoped. Mr P O’Sullivan, trainer of the horse, said it was anticipated a number of runners drawn inside WALKONTHEWILDSIDE would be taken back to race in rearward positions. He said because of this he instructed O Doleuze to ride WALKONTHEWILDSIDE in a more forward position than is usual. He said in hindsight this may not have suited WALKONTHEWILDSIDE. He did say WALKONTHEWILDSIDE travelled in a three wide position throughout today’s race, however, in his opinion this did not solely account for the horse’s performance as it was beaten shortly after straightening. He said WALKONTHEWILDSIDE’s work had been good leading into today’s race and the horse had shown no ill-effects of having completed a number of laps of the Small All Weather Track riderless after dislodging its rider on 25 October 2007. He said subsequent to that day WALKONTHEWILDSIDE had worked well, had eaten up and showed itself to be bright. The performance of WALKONTHEWILDSIDE was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, WALKONTHEWILDSIDE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WALKONTHEWILDSIDE was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. GIGA SPIRITS was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of WALKONTHEWILDSIDE and GIGA SPIRITS after the race did not show any significant findings. SLOW WALTZ and SKYVIEW BAR were sent for sampling.