22/02/2009  Shatin  Race 10

HORSE WIN WIN and MING HOI TREASURE were slow to begin. EIGHT PLUS NINE began awkwardly and then lost further ground when crowded for room between LASKER and ISTIDE which on jumping stumbled and shifted in. Shortly after the start, when being taken back, ISTIDE got its head up on several occasions, then in the early stages proved difficult to settle and throughout the race travelled wide and without cover. At the 1200 Metres, MING HOI TREASURE, which was travelling keenly, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of WHIPLASH which shifted in slightly. UPSIDE OF ANGER, which was following, was hampered in consequence. After the 1200 Metres, EURO SWIFTLY was steadied away from the heels of ENCHANTED. Near the 1000 Metres, EIGHT PLUS NINE, which was travelling keenly, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of UPSIDE OF ANGER which was steadied away from the heels of MING HOI TREASURE. EIGHT PLUS NINE made the turn at the 800 Metres awkwardly, got its head up, shifted out and bumped SPECIAL K. LASKER hung out making the Home Turn. In the early part of the Straight, FIRST BEAT hung in, then after the 200 Metres when giving ground was steadied when crowded for room between WHIPLASH and GOOD PARTNER (O Doleuze) which shifted out. O Doleuze was reprimanded and told to exercise care. At the 400 Metres, MING HOI TREASURE was steadied and shifted to the outside of OSVALDO into clear running. At the 100 Metres, LASKER was shifted to the inside of FIRST BEAT which was continuing to give ground. For the majority of the race, OSVALDO travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Mr A Schutz, the trainer of ISTIDE, said he had been disappointed with the manner in which the horse had been finishing its races off when racing wide and without cover. He said from a wide barrier today he anticipated ISTIDE would have difficulty obtaining a position with cover and he therefore instructed M Du Plessis, the horse’s rider, to take the horse back in the early stages to a position with cover. The explanation of Mr Schutz was reported. C Soumillon (ENCHANTED), which was racing with the blinkers removed today, said he was instructed to ride the horse where it was comfortable and preferably with cover. He said on jumping a number of runners to his inside went forward and he therefore took ENCHANTED back to a position slightly worse than midfield to ensure the horse had cover and would relax. He said ENCHANTED travelled fairly in the run, however, after being shifted out into clear running on straightening disappointed in the manner in which it failed to close the race off. Mr C W Chang, the trainer of ENCHANTED, said it was his intention for ENCHANTED to travel where it was comfortable. He said he had removed the blinkers from the gear of ENCHANTED as the horse was today stepping back up in distance to 1400 Metres and he had been somewhat disappointed with the horse’s two race starts wearing that gear. He said since winning earlier in the season when leading in a slowly run race, ENCHANTED had disappointed him with its performances. He said he was again disappointed with the performance of ENCHANTED today. He did point out ENCHANTED has a history of internal bleeding. FIRST BEAT and ISTIDE were sent for an official veterinary inspection. After the race, FIRST BEAT was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said the horse had bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of ISTIDE after the race did not show any significant findings. MING HOI TREASURE, TERRIFIC BRETHREN and GOOD PARTNER were sent for sampling.