06/05/2012  Shatin  Race 7

NOBLE DEFEATER was withdrawn on 5.5.12 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore). ANCIENT KINGDOM was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left front foot). Before being allowed to race again, NOBLE DEFEATER and ANCIENT KINGDOM will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. DANZULU was slow to begin and shortly after the start was bumped by FLASH KNIGHT which was taken in by JOLLY FINE. THE ONLY KID was slow to begin. Near the 100 Metres, the whip of K C Leung (SCARLET CAMELLIA) was knocked from his grasp by the whip of T Angland (LOMBARDI). Approaching the 50 Metres, PERCY JACKSON was checked when crowded for room between JOLLY FINE and XILAI XIANZI which, after initially being taken out by FLASH KNIGHT, then got its head on the side and shifted out away from that horse despite the efforts of its rider to straighten XILAI XIANZI. In the circumstances, no further action was taken. When questioned, K C Leung stated that he had been instructed to ride SCARLET CAMELLIA in 4th or 5th position with cover if possible. He said it was anticipated that the race would be run at a slow tempo and that he should be positive on SCARLET CAMELLIA in the early stages to obtain a forward position, however, it was imperative that if at all possible SCARLET CAMELLIA should obtain cover. He said after the 1400 Metres he shifted in, believing that he could take PERCY JACKSON across to race on the rail, however, he received a call from his inside and he soon became aware that XILAI XIANZI had improved its position to be racing inside the heels of PERCY JACKSON. He said for this reason he was obliged to shift SCARLET CAMELLIA out to relieve the tightening to the horses to his inside which had been crowded for room. He said after this he noticed that PERCY JACKSON was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LOMBARDI and approaching the 1200 Metres shifted out away from the heels of that horse. He said he was hopeful that PERCY JACKSON would be required to race in a three wide position to the outside of the heels of LOMBARDI and he steadied SCARLET CAMELLIA with a view to obtaining cover behind PERCY JACKSON in the event that it remained racing three wide. He added however that a short distance after this PERCY JACKSON shifted back in to resume racing behind LOMBARDI and for this reason SCARLET CAMELLIA was left racing three wide and without cover in about a midfield position. He said he did give consideration to allowing SCARLET CAMELLIA to improve its position at this time, however, having in mind he had been required to take SCARLET CAMELLIA back further with a view to trying to obtain cover behind PERCY JACKSON, he felt that too much use would have had to be made of SCARLET CAMELLIA to obtain the lead which he would have to have done to race closer to the rail. He said when SCARLET CAMELLIA was left racing without cover, the horse over-raced and for this reason after the 800 Metres he allowed it to improve of its own accord around PERCY JACKSON to race outside the lead. He added that in the circumstances of today’s race he felt that it was a better option to remain racing wide rather than make use of SCARLET CAMELLIA to go forward and lead when he had been instructed to have the horse positioned behind the lead. K C Leung was advised that whilst there were some circumstances which resulted in SCARLET CAMELLIA being required to race wider in the early and middle stages, in the opinion of the Stewards, the interests of SCARLET CAMELLIA would have been better served had the horse been allowed to stride into a more forward position and possibly obtain the lead given the very slow sectionals recorded in the race. When questioned regarding his riding of XILAI XIANZI in the Straight, M Chadwick stated that in the early part of the Straight he shifted XILAI XIANZI out to obtain a run to the outside of FLASH KNIGHT. He said rounding the Home Turn XILAI XIANZI raced with its head on the side and was inclined to shift out and for this reason he felt that it was in the best interest of the horse to obtain clear running to the outside of horses rather than having to improve between runners. He said he shifted XILAI XIANZI out to be racing behind FLASH KNIGHT after the 300 Metres, however, XILAI XIANZI, despite being ridden along, did not show any turn of foot and was finishing off the race only one-paced. He said he continued to race behind FLASH KNIGHT which was shifting out as at this time XILAI XIANZI was not making any impression on that horse and was positioned some lengths behind that horse. He said however that approaching the 100 Metres XILAI XIANZI commenced to finish off the race more strongly and as the horse was positioned to towards the outside of FLASH KNIGHT, he elected to allow it to shift out to obtain a run to the outside of that horse as he felt that PERCY JACKSON, which was positioned to his outside, was not finishing off the race and he was able to shift that horse out. He added that when he was committed to shift to the outside of FLASH KNIGHT, that horse got its head on the side and shifted out further which resulted in XILAI XIANZI having to shift away from the heels of that horse and ultimately shifting out across the running of PERCY JACKSON. M Chadwick was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had erred in persevering to obtain a run to the outside of FLASH KNIGHT which had shown an inclination to shift wider in the early part of the Straight. He was further advised that he should have directed XILAI XIANZI to the inside of FLASH KNIGHT into clear running rather than continuing to shift out. M Chadwick was reprimanded and advised that on this occasion his riding of XILAI XIANZI in the Straight had lacked judgement and that in future he must ride his mounts in such a manner so as to ensure that they are afforded clear and uninterrupted running wherever possible. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of WINNING APEX, O Doleuze stated that the horse performed well when ridden behind the speed at its previous start. He said in today’s race it was anticipated that the race would be run at a slow tempo and the horse may be left racing in the lead from barrier 1. He said however that he was asked if it was at all possible to obtain cover on the horse if another runner showed superior early speed. He said when no other horse improved to his outside, WINNING APEX was left racing in the lead. He said, in his opinion, WINNING APEX was not suited by being ridden in the lead today and he advised the connections to consider dropping the horse back in distance and ride it more conservatively as it had previously finished off its races well when ridden in this manner. A veterinary inspection of WINNING APEX after the race revealed that the horse had sustained a minor wound to the back of the left hock. SCARLET CAMELLIA, FLASH KNIGHT and LOMBARDI were sent for sampling.