16/12/2012  Shatin  Race 5

GOLD TARTINI and SWEET CORNER bumped at the start. After this, GOLD TARTINI was ridden along, however, failed to muster speed. When being steadied in the early stages, THANKSGIVING got its head up and proved difficult to settle. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, CHAMPION MOUNT was slow to muster speed. At the 1400 Metres, MUTUAL DELIGHT was crowded for room between AMBASSADORSHIP and THANKSGIVING which shifted in momentarily. After the 1000 Metres, REAL GENERAL was steadied away from the heels of CHOIR (C Y Ho) which shifted in. CHOIR was then shifted out by its rider and ridden along to clear REAL GENERAL. C Y Ho was advised to exercise more care in future. Also after the 1000 Metres, THANKSGIVING was left racing wide and without cover. Near the 500 Metres, PANTHER RUN became unbalanced when awkwardly placed outside the heels of THANKSGIVING which was taken out slightly by SWEET CORNER. Rounding the Home Turn, GOLD TARTINI was awkwardly placed outside the heels of AMBASSADORSHIP. REAL GENERAL was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight. Shortly after the 400 Metres, DOUBLE MOON was badly crowded for room when obtaining a tight run to the inside of CHOIR which, when giving ground, shifted in slightly under pressure. After this, CHOIR continued to give ground and finished tailed off. The performance of CHOIR was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, CHOIR will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Passing the 200 Metres, CHAMPION MOUNT was shifted to the outside of the heels of SWEET CORNER when disappointed for running between that horse and WALALA, both of which shifted ground. Also passing the 200 Metres, PANTHER RUN shifted out under pressure, resulting in MUTUAL DELIGHT being taken wider. Passing the 150 Metres, T Angland (MUTUAL DELIGHT) dropped his whip. When questioned, T Angland stated that approaching the 600 Metres he considered shifting to the outside of THANKSGIVING when PANTHER RUN commenced to improve its position around MUTUAL DELIGHT, however, as MUTUAL DELIGHT was racing for the first time over 1600 Metres today, he felt that shifting out at this time would not be in the horse’s best interests. He said therefore he allowed PANTHER RUN to continue forward and then followed that horse rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight immediately shifted to the outside into clear running. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of GOOD THINKER, U Rispoli stated that he had to make a lot of use of GOOD THINKER to obtain a forward position from barrier 12. He said GOOD THINKER became unbalanced on a number of occasions shortly after the start after making contact with CHOIR and after this he was required to continue to ride the horse along to clear runners to his inside. He added although GOOD THINKER was able to travel comfortably outside the lead in the middle stages, the amount of use he had to make of the horse in the early stages resulted in it not being able to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of GOOD THINKER after the race did not show any significant findings. MUTUAL DELIGHT, REAL GENERAL, SWEET CORNER and PANTHER RUN were sent for sampling.