10/11/2012  Shatin  Race 4

NEWSWIRE TOO was slow to begin. MARVEL PLUS was slow to begin and then shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of DIAMOND ANGEL. REAL GENERAL got its head on the side shortly after the start, shifted out and in doing so bumped GORGEOUS LIFE. From the outside barrier, VICTORY IDE SAY was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. After the 1100 Metres, DIAMOND ANGEL was left racing wide and without cover. Near the 900 Metres, ABLE MAGIC proved difficult to settle and got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of SCENT OF OSMANTHUS. When the tempo of the race slackened near the 700 Metres, MARVEL PLUS commenced to prove difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of MEGA POSH which in turn was steadied away from the heels of PETIT PRINCE. At the same time, SCENT OF OSMANTHUS was shifted out when being checked away from the heels of REAL GENERAL and in doing so made contact with LOVING ALL. NEWSWIRE TOO and VICTORY IDE SAY, which were following MARVEL PLUS, were checked in consequence. ABLE MAGIC, which was continuing to prove difficult to settle, shifted out abruptly after being awkwardly placed outside the hindquarters of MARVEL PLUS and in doing so shifted out and made heavy contact with the hindquarters of SHINING TREASURES which became badly unbalanced. TELECOM TOP STAR, which was following ABLE MAGIC, shifted out abruptly away from the heels of that horse and in doing so blundered. Shortly after the 400 Metres, MEGA POSH was steadied when disappointed for running inside PETIT PRINCE which was commencing to give ground. VICTORY IDE SAY had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. In the Straight, TELECOM TOP STAR (A Suborics) got its head on the side and lay in and then at the 200 Metres the whip of A Suborics was knocked from his grasp by the whip of Z Purton (ABLE MAGIC). When questioned, D Whyte stated that, from barrier 4, he rode DIAMOND ANGEL into a forward position as instructed. He said he anticipated GORGEOUS LIFE would shift over across onto the rail which would allow DIAMOND ANGEL the opportunity to be positioned outside of that horse one horse off the rail. He said however that after obtaining a position one horse off the rail, GORGEOUS LIFE remained racing in that position rather than shifting over to the rail and as REAL GENERAL had established its position behind GORGEOUS LIFE, he was left racing three wide and after the 900 Metres without cover. A veterinary inspection of SHINING TREASURES and MEGA POSH after the race did not show any significant findings. MEGA POSH, ABLE MAGIC and GORGEOUS LIFE were sent for sampling.