28/04/2013  Shatin  Race 1

GOOD TIMES ROLL was withdrawn on 27.4.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter JACK’S GEM (B Prebble). Before being allowed to race again, GOOD TIMES ROLL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LINKED WIN was slow to begin. FASTPLUS MASTER, which was leaning on the outside of its stall, began awkwardly. ARCHER’S BOW and ALP’S GLORY bumped at the start. Passing the 700 Metres, PERFECT JOY raced tight between TRIUMPHANT WAY and SHAREMA FEELING. Throughout the race, SHAREMA FEELING travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, O Doleuze stated that he had been asked to ride NATURAL FLAME, which was stepping up in distance today, in a forward position if possible. He said as NATURAL FLAME had previously hung out badly in some of its races, he was asked if possible to have another runner positioned to the horse’s outside to help it negotiate the turns. He said after having to ride NATURAL FLAME along in the early stages from barrier 11 to cross runners to his inside, he commenced to steady the horse after the 1200 Metres in the hope that another runner would improve to its outside. He said however that as soon as he did this, NATURAL FLAME commenced to over-race and hang out. He added that the more he attempted to steady the tempo on NATURAL FLAME, the keener the horse raced and he was unable to prevent it from going too quickly in front due to its inclination to hang out and due to the fact that it was proving very difficult to settle. Having in mind NATURAL FLAME’s prior history, the horse’s racing performance today was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, NATURAL FLAME will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial around a bend and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of DOUBLE MOON, T Clark stated that, as usual, he had been asked to ride the horse quietly from the outside barrier. He said accordingly he shifted DOUBLE MOON across behind runners in the early stages. He added after the 1200 Metres he was able to obtain a position with cover behind ALP’S GLORY. He said passing the 1000 Metres DOUBLE MOON commenced to over-race and got its head up on a number of occasions when awkwardly placed close to the heels of ALP’S GLORY. He added however after the 800 Metres DOUBLE MOON came off the bridle and he was not able to maintain his position behind ALP’S GLORY. He said as he had been asked not to make a sustained run on DOUBLE MOON, he elected to come back further rather than continue to attempt to stay at the back of ALP’S GLORY as he was of the opinion that he would be taken wider by TELECOM TOP STAR. He said he followed that horse rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight he immediately shifted DOUBLE MOON to the outside, however, the horse did not respond to his riding and did not close off its race as it had done in its previous races. He said DOUBLE MOON was particularly disappointing in that he had concerns that the horse would not finish off the race as far out as the 800 Metres. A veterinary inspection of DOUBLE MOON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of PERFECT JOY, Apprentice K C Ng stated that his mount travelled satisfactorily in the run. He said rounding the Home Turn he shifted to the outside of SHAREMA FEELING to improve his position which resulted in the horse racing tight inside ALP’S GLORY which was maintaining its position. He said although he raced tight inside ALP’S GLORY, PERFECT JOY was not travelling well enough to improve its position into a run which was available to the inside of that horse and outside SHAREMA FEELING. He said in the Straight PERFECT JOY finished off the race only one-paced. He added that when the horse raced well when ridden by him previously, it carried blinkers and he recommended to Mr C H Yip, the horse’s trainer, to consider reapplying that gear to the horse in its future starts. A veterinary inspection of PERFECT JOY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that FUN AND FAST had lost its right front plate. PERFECT JOY, GORGEOUS LIFE and TRIUMPHANT WAY were sent for sampling.