02/03/2013  Shatin  Race 4

MY WORD began awkwardly. HEY CHEERS began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped T-BOLT. BET ON ME began awkwardly and shortly after the start became unbalanced after making heavy contact with SUPREME GENKI. Approaching the 1000 Metres, BET ON ME commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions when awkwardly placed close to the heels of NOTUS. Near the 850 Metres, LORD DRAGON shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of SOLAR BOY. Passing the 700 Metres, BET ON ME again commenced to prove difficult to settle and continued to get its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of ARCHER’S BOW. Rounding the Home Turn, BET ON ME and TRIUMPHANT WAY raced tight as BET ON ME attempted to shift to the outside of ARCHER’S BOW into clear running. Passing the 300 Metres, TRIUMPHANT WAY was bumped and taken wider and EPEE DE HUA also taken wider by BET ON ME (Apprentice C Y Lui) which shifted out when being ridden along. Near the 150 Metres, TRIUMPHANT WAY was momentarily steadied when crowded for room between EPEE DE HUA which shifted in slightly and BET ON ME which continued to shift out. Apprentice Lui was reprimanded and advised that in similar circumstances he would be expected to put the whip away and straighten his mounts rather than riding them along and causing interference to other runners. Close to the finishing line, M L Yeung, the rider of NOTUS, was struck across the arm by the whip of T Clark (T-BOLT). When questioned, R Fourie stated that as EPEE DE HUA was up in grade today, from the wide barrier, he had been asked to ride the horse quietly in the early stages and have it finish off the race. He said it was felt that if EPEE DE HUA were to be ridden to obtain a forward position, the horse would not be able to finish off the race strongly over the 1400 Metres in this grade. He said in accordance with his instructions, he shifted EPEE DE HUA across behind runners in the early stages and it travelled comfortably in a position worse than midfield. He said when placed under pressure in the Straight EPEE DE HUA responded strongly to his riding and closed off the race well. He added that at its most recent start at Happy Valley the horse was ridden in about a midfield position over the 1200 Metres and it was able to race successfully on that occasion. A veterinary inspection of FULGURITE immediately following the race revealed the horse to have bled from both nostrils, to be lame in the right front leg and to be a “roarer”. Before being allowed to race again, FULGURITE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ARCHER’S BOW, FULGURITE, SUPREME GENKI and T-BOLT were sent for sampling.