01/10/2013  Shatin  Race 4

IT CAN ONLY BE YOU began awkwardly. GORGEOUS DEBUT was slow to begin. FANTASTICO began only fairly and shortly after the start was steadied when crowded for room between EVERYONE’S CHOICE and WELL FIT which shifted out after being bumped on the hindquarters by FANTASTICO. Passing the 800 Metres, GORGEOUS DEBUT, which was racing greenly, got its head up and proved very difficult to settle when awkwardly placed close to the heels of PURE FORCE. Near the 700 Metres, WELL FIT was crowded for room between GOLDEN ADDICTION and EVERYONE’S CHOICE which shifted in when awkwardly placed close to the heels of ELEGANT FRAMES. Approaching the 600 Metres, GORGEOUS DEBUT was awkwardly placed close to the heels of MIGHT AND VISION. Near the 300 Metres, WELL FIT got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of EVERYONE’S CHOICE which, when commencing to give ground, was eased away from the heels of FANTASTICO which, after being held up for clear running, was shifted in to improve its position. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the prima facie view that an incident occurred passing the 100 Metres which cast sufficient doubt on whether PURE FORCE (T H So) should be declared the winner of the race. Subsequently Jockey K Teetan, the rider of the second placegetter, MAROON PRINCE, lodged a protest/objection against PURE FORCE being declared the winner alleging interference passing the 100 Metres. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that passing the 100 Metres PURE FORCE shifted out and made contact with MAROON PRINCE which was inconvenienced. Having considered the matter, the Stewards could not be comfortably satisfied that had the contact not occurred that MAROON PRINCE would have beaten PURE FORCE and for this reason the protest/objection was overruled and weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. Subsequently T H So was reprimanded and advised that in future he would be expected to stop riding and straighten his mount in similar circumstances. Over the concluding stages, WELL FIT was awkwardly placed outside GOLDEN ADDICTION which shifted out under pressure. FANTASTICO, PURE FORCE and MAROON PRINCE were sent for sampling.