01/01/2012  Shatin  Race 4

MAELSTROM shifted out at the start and made heavy contact with GREAT HERO, resulting in that horse being taken out onto INTELLECTUALSTRIDE, causing GREAT HERO to lose ground and INTELLECTUALSTRIDE to become unbalanced. PERFECT JOY shifted out at the start and bumped CLEMENT SPIRIT. After the 800 Metres, HAPPY FOREVER commenced to prove difficult to settle and shifted out away from the heels of MAELSTROM. This resulted in HAPPY FOREVER racing three wide and without cover for the remainder of the race. AL PRINCE was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight. Shortly after entering the Straight, HAPPY FOREVER shifted in, resulting in MAELSTROM being inconvenienced. Passing the 300 Metres, GREAT HERO was steadied away from the heels of CLEMENT SPIRIT which shifted out to obtain clear running. Approaching the 200 Metres, PERFECT JOY was steadied when tightened for room between TRUE VALOUR and CLEMENT SPIRIT which continued to shift out when attempting to obtain clear running. Throughout the race, PERFECT JOY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, B Doyle (MAELSTROM) stated that passing the 600 Metres he was travelling behind the favourite, JADE CHRISTY and inside HAPPY FOREVER. He said although it was available for him to shift out at this time to the outside of JADE CHRISTY, he elected to remain racing behind that horse as he felt that it would take him into the race. He said that he did not want to have MAELSTROM racing three wide and without cover at the 600 Metres as his mount was travelling only fairly and he believed it would not be in MAELSTROM's best interests to have to sustain a 600 Metre run. He added that although HAPPY FOREVER was able to improve its position around MAELSTROM at this time, JADE CHRISTY sprinted well at the top of the Straight which provided MAELSTROM the opportunity to continue to follow that horse in the early part of the Straight before obtaining clear running after the 400 Metres. JADE CHRISTY, GAMEKEEPERS and HAPPY FOREVER were sent for sampling.