25/05/2014  Shatin  Race 7

KITAYA lost its left front plate on jumping. WINNING MASCOT and HARBOUR DELIGHT bumped heavily at the start. JAEGER BOMB began awkwardly and then shortly after the start became unbalanced after bumping with WINNING INSTINCT. After initially being ridden along, JAEGER BOMB was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Shortly after the start, KEEN TACTICS and LET ME GO were crowded for room between CREATIVE WINNER and KITAYA which began awkwardly and shifted in. From the outside barrier, STAY AHEAD was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. At the 500 Metres, SUPREME FRESH was shifted from behind SHINY DAY after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse which was giving ground. After this, SHINY DAY got its head on the side and shifted out under pressure. At the 400 Metres, K C Leung (SHINY DAY) dropped his left rein. For some distance after the 350 Metres, CREATIVE WINNER raced tight between KITAYA and SHINY DAY which, when giving ground abruptly, got its head on the side and shifted in. Then near the 300 Metres, CREATIVE WINNER was checked when it continued to be crowded for room between SHINY DAY and KITAYA which shifted out when racing tight to the outside of HARBOUR DELIGHT which also shifted ground. As there were a number of circumstances associated with this incident and as no rider was deemed to have ridden carelessly, no further action was taken. When questioned, K C Leung stated that he was instructed, from a wide barrier, to allow his mount to stride forward and it was felt that SHINY DAY would have sufficient natural speed to be able to obtain a forward position. He said he had been asked not to ride SHINY DAY aggressively in the early stages as the horse had been stopping in its races of late, however, it was still felt that SHINY DAY would be able to obtain a forward position without having to be made use of. He said in accordance with his instructions he allowed SHINY DAY to improve its position, however, the horse did not show enough early speed to be able to cross CLUB LIFE and TARZAN I AM to his inside. He added he did not believe SHINY DAY was travelling well enough to cross runners to his inside even were he to ride his mount aggressively to do so. He said although SHINY DAY raced three wide and without cover outside the lead, nonetheless the horse was under pressure at the 600 Metres and gave ground abruptly at the entrance to the Straight. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of TARZAN I AM, J Moreira stated that his mount raced too keenly in the lead when racing inside CLUB LIFE. He said he tried to get TARZAN I AM to relax in the event, however, the horse over-raced and because of this was then not able to finish off the race in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of TARZAN I AM immediately following the race revealed the horse to be a “roarer” which had previously been reported. A veterinary inspection of JAEGER BOMB and HARBOUR DELIGHT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TARZAN I AM, LET ME GO and WINNING INSTINCT were sent for sampling.