12/01/2013  Shatin  Race 10

From wide barriers, STRATHTAY, COSMIC BOOM and FLASH KNIGHT were all taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Near the 1200 Metres, NEW VISION got its head up on a number of occasions when proving difficult to settle and shifted in, momentarily crowding AKEED MOFEED onto LET ME HANDLE IT which became unbalanced. Passing the 1200 Metres, COSMIC BOOM and KEEN WONGCHOY got their heads up on a number of occasions when proving difficult to settle. Near the 1100 Metres, KEEN WONGCHOY continued to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions. Making the first turn after the 900 Metres, DISTILL was awkwardly placed close to the heels of KEEN WONGCHOY which continued to prove difficult to settle. Over the concluding stages, DISTILL was awkwardly placed close to the heels of KING OF REASON. Throughout the race, TRUMP travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. T Clark (LET ME HANDLE IT) stated that at the 1100 Metres when racing tight inside AKEED MOFEED, LET ME HANDLE IT got its head on the side and was reluctant to maintain its position inside that horse. He said when this happened, LET ME HANDLE IT lost a considerable amount of ground. STRATHTAY, which was following LET ME HANDLE IT, was severely checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence. When questioned, G Mossé (FLASH KNIGHT) stated that he had been specifically instructed by the horse’s trainer, Mr J Moore, to shift across behind runners from the outside barrier and because of this to make his finishing run between runners rather than coming wide around horses. He said it was explained to him that with the rail in the C+3 position, it was anticipated that FLASH KNIGHT would have to cover too much ground if the horse were to be taken to the outside of runners and therefore he should ride for luck in the Straight. He said rounding the Home Turn COSMIC BOOM, which was racing in advance of FLASH KNIGHT, was shifted out, taking BEAUTY FLASH wider, therefore he immediately shifted to the inside of that horse and commenced to make his finishing run. He said FLASH KNIGHT responded well to his riding, however, he noticed after the 400 Metres that KEEN WONGCHOY was being shifted out in advance of FLASH KNIGHT, therefore he elected to continue to improve to the inside of that horse. He added however that TRUMP, which was racing in advance of FLASH KNIGHT, commenced to give ground abruptly and KEEN WONGCHOY, after initially being shifted out , was then inclined to shift back in under pressure approaching the 200 Metres. He said because of this FLASH KNIGHT was badly hampered when unable to improve between TRUMP and KEEN WONGCHOY. He added that after the 200 Metres TRUMP weakened out of the race and this allowed FLASH KNIGHT to then obtain clear running after which the horse closed off the race strongly. Trainer J Moore, who was not on course today, was contacted by the Stewards regarding the instructions he gave to G Mossé. Mr Moore confirmed that he had instructed G Mossé to ride FLASH KNIGHT for luck as he anticipated that the horse would be positioned close to rail at the rear of the field due to the wide barrier. He said with the rail position today, he felt that it would be detrimental to the prospects of FLASH KNIGHT if it were to be taken wider rounding the Home Turn to make its run to the outside of horses. He said after having viewed the race, he believed that it would have been better for FLASH KNIGHT to be shifted to the outside of runners given the circumstances of the race, however, he acknowledged that Jockey Mossé had ridden in accordance with his instructions. When questioned regarding his riding of AKEED MOFEED in the Straight, O Doleuze stated that rounding the Home Turn he was positioned to the inside of NEW VISION and inside the heels of GREEN EAGLE. He said as it was not available to him to shift out at this time, he therefore elected to shift AKEED MOFEED to the inside of FULFIL A WISH passing the 400 Metres when that horse shifted away from the rail. He said AKEED MOFEED improved its position nicely inside FULFIL A WISH and after the 300 Metres he was positioned to the inside of that horse and behind the leader, KING OF REASON. He said he noted at this time that the rider of KING OF REASON, which he was aware was ridden by a 10 lb claiming apprentice, was using the whip in the right hand and the horse had commenced to shift away from the rail slightly. He said for this reason approaching the 200 Metres he elected to obtain a run to the inside of KING OF REASON as he anticipated that that horse would continue to shift out when being ridden with the whip in the right hand. He said because he had committed to improve to the inside of KING OF REASON, he was unaware that a run was developing to the outside of that horse due to FULFIL A WISH shifting out under pressure. He said when it became aware to him that a clear run was available between KING OF REASON and FULFIL A WISH, he had already committed to obtain running to the inside of KING OF REASON and was positioned well inside the heels of that horse. He added that when KING OF REASON did not shift out as he anticipated, he elected, approaching the 100 Metres, to steady AKEED MOFEED and shift to the outside of KING OF REASON and it was only at this time that KING OF REASON shifted out sufficiently for a run to be available to its inside. He said however that at this time he had already committed to shift back out. After viewing the video of the race, O Doleuze stated that in hindsight he had erred in committing to the inside of the heels of KING OF REASON at the time that he did. After considering the circumstances of this matter, O Doleuze was severely reprimanded and advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had erred in failing to remain alert to and assessing all the options available to him at this time including the run that was clearly developing between KING OF REASON and FULFIL A WISH. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that NEW VISION had lost its right hind plate. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY FLASH after the race did not show any significant findings. FULFIL A WISH and GREEN EAGLE were sent for sampling.