08/11/2008  Shatin  Race 4

DIAMOND FLYER began awkwardly and got its head up. NOBLE TWINS was slow to begin. Shortly after the start, SPEED OF LIGHT was taken back from a wide barrier. After the 1200 Metres, SPEED OF LIGHT was steadied away from the heels of GEM MASTER which was steadied away from the heels of ALL FOR ONE which when proving difficult to settle was steadied away from the heels of HEADINGLEY. Making the turn at the 800 Metres, PURE ALPHA was steadied away from the heels of ALL FOR ONE which made the turn awkwardly and shifted out. After the 400 Metres, GEM MASTER was steadied and shifted to the outside of ARISTOCRACY. Passing the 300 Metres, HEADINGLEY had difficulty obtaining clear running. At the 250 Metres, SPEED OF LIGHT, which was commencing to close the race off, was steadied and shifted to the outside of CELESTIAL WONDER to continue going forward. Throughout the race, KING OF FISH and CELESTIAL WONDER travelled wide and without cover. B Doyle (FILEBO) was not able to offer any explanation for the poor performance of the horse. He said FILEBO travelled in a midfield position which was slightly further forward than when it was successful at its most recent start. He said he rode FILEBO forward out of the barriers and his mount was able to travel comfortably in midfield. He said prior to straightening he felt confident FILEBO would figure in the finish, however, the horse did not respond to his riding when placed under pressure. He said he had ridden FILEBO in work leading into today’s race and in his opinion this work had been good. When questioned, C K Tong (GEM MASTER) said he had been instructed to ride the horse in a midfield position if possible. He said GEM MASTER began well and he then steadied his mount to allow runners on his inside to go forward of him. He said after the 1500 Metres he commenced to shift across closer to the rail. He said near the 1400 Metres he believed he would have had to make use of GEM MASTER to hold its position behind HEADINGLEY and he did not believe it would be in the best interest of GEM MASTER to do so. He said at the same time ALL FOR ONE commenced to shift in on his outside, he therefore elected to steady and take a trailing position behind that horse and as a consequence travelled further back than was instructed. C K Tong was severely reprimanded and told in similar circumstances he would be expected to make a greater effort to ride to the instructions issued to him. When questioned regarding the poor performance of PURE ALPHA, D Whyte explained from the outside barrier he had been instructed to take his mount across behind runners to obtain a position with cover. He said PURE ALPHA travelled satisfactorily throughout the run in a rearward position, did receive slight interference at the 800 Metres, but this was of little significance. He said after straightening he placed PURE ALPHA under pressure and the horse did not respond to his riding in the manner in which he thought it would. He said after keeping on one-paced until the 200 Metres PURE ALPHA then gave ground in the run to the line. He said he was not able to offer any explanation for the performance of PURE ALPHA. PURE ALPHA was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of PURE ALPHA after the race did not show any significant findings. BATURO and HEADINGLEY were sent for sampling.