11/06/2014  Shatin  Race 4

NOBODY BUT YOU and ZERO ENERGY ACT, both of which began awkwardly, bumped at the start. Then despite being ridden along in the early stages, NOBODY BUT YOU failed to muster speed. From a wide barrier, FOREVER AHEAD was taken across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1000 Metres, MEDIC KINGDOM became unbalanced when crowded for room inside STARTLING POWER which at this time improved its position to be racing tight to the inside of APOLLO CAVALIER. Approaching the 600 Metres, FOREVER AHEAD was shifted out away from the heels of EL GRANDE after being awkwardly placed behind that horse. Near the 100 Metres, EL GRANDE was shifted out away from the heels of LOADS OF JOY when held up for clear running. BOULD MOVER, which was racing outside EL GRANDE, was inconvenienced in consequence. Over the concluding stages, MEDIC KINGDOM improved into tight room between STARTLING POWER and SUPER TORNADO. Throughout the race, LOADS OF JOY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Apprentice C Y Lui stated that he rode EL GRANDE along prior to and after the 800 Metres in an attempt to maintain his position inside GOOD YIELD. He said as he could see that GOOD YIELD and BOULD MOVER, which were positioned to the outside of that horse, were shifting in, he believed it was in the best interests of EL GRANDE not to continue to ride his mount along but rather to allow GOOD YIELD to cross and obtain a trailing position behind that horse so as to allow EL GRANDE to travel more comfortably. When questioned regarding the performance of STARTLING POWER, Z Purton stated that after being fractious in the barriers, his mount was slow to begin and because of this he had to ride it along in the early stages to obtain a forward position as instructed. He said after travelling about 50 Metres, STARTLING POWER was able to improve to the inside of APOLLO CAVALIER and his mount subsequently travelled very well in the lead. He said, in his opinion, the amount of use that he had to make of STARTLING POWER in the early stages was less than that at the horse’s most recent start when it was able to finish off the race well. He added the tempo of the race in the early and middle stages was only fair and for this reason STARTLING POWER was able to travel well. He said after entering the Home Straight STARTLING POWER became unbalanced on a number of occasions and he attributed this to racing under lights for the first time. He said STARTLING POWER is still immature having only its third race start and, in his opinion, finished off the race only satisfactorily over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of STARTLING POWER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of GOOD YIELD immediately following the race revealed the horse to have bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of ZERO ENERGY ACT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. STARTLING POWER, HURRY HURRY UP and SUPER TORNADO were sent for sampling.