09/06/2012  Shatin  Race 5

After being loaded, OYSTER became fractious, reared up and struck out at the front gate. When doing so, OYSTER lost its right front plate. As OYSTER required re-plating, the field was removed from the barriers. The Stewards ruled that prior to being permitted to race again, OYSTER will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. GLORY WIN was slow to begin. From the outside barrier, ALL FRIENDS was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Shortly after the start, LUCKY BOY became unbalanced after shifting in and bumping OYSTER. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, WHAT A HEART failed to muster speed and near the 1000 Metres was steadied and shifted across behind runners. When questioned, M Du Plessis stated that he had been instructed to obtain a forward position on BROTHERS IN ARMS. He said accordingly he rode his mount positively in the early stages, however, BROTHERS IN ARMS did not show sufficient speed to clear runners to his inside. He said he had intended to shift BROTHERS IN ARMS across to race outside HONEY FORTUNE in a three wide position, however, O’HALO was ridden to maintain its position to his inside. He said having in mind the amount of work he had done on BROTHERS IN ARMS in the early stages, he did not feel it was reasonable to continue to push the horse forward in an endeavour to clear O’HALO and race in a three wide position. He said because of this he was obliged to race in a four wide position without cover outside O’HALO. DARPANA and GALLANT MAMBO were sent for sampling.