01/10/2013  Shatin  Race 6

JAMESINA and INDIGO WAY bumped at the start. From wide barriers, EAGLE SPIRIT and BUDDY BUDDIES were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Passing the 1300 Metres, COOL BEAN was steadied away from the heels of SUPER PISTACHIO which shifted away from the rail. After the 1000 Metres, COOL BEAN had to be ridden along to maintain its position between TODOS CON SUERTE and LEVEL PLAYER. Then making the turn near the 900 Metres, JAMESINA, which was following COOL BEAN, commenced to over-race and shifted out when being checked away from the heels of COOL BEAN and in doing so became unbalanced when awkwardly placed inside the heels of AMBER DRAGON. Near the 650 Metres, PERCY JACKSON was momentarily steadied away from the heels of COOL BEAN which shifted in. Approaching the 100 Metres, INDIGO WAY, which was closing off the race fairly, was shifted in away from the heels of TOWERING STORM. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that he had been instructed to ride TOWERING STORM, from barrier 9, in a midfield position with cover if possible. He said Mr P F Yiu, the trainer of TOWERING STORM, explained that earlier races conducted today indicated that horses racing in forward positions had been advantaged and that he did not want TOWERING STORM to get too far out of its ground in the early stages. He said TOWERING STORM began very well and he did not ride his mount along in the early stages, but rather he allowed the horse to shift across in an attempt to obtain a position with cover. He said however that after the 1700 Metres he was left racing very wide and without cover in about a midfield position and as Mr Yiu had advised him that he did not want TOWERING STORM to get out of its ground in the early stages, he felt that it was more beneficial to allow TOWERING STORM to stride forward and hopefully obtain a position with cover rather than restraining his mount as he believed he would have to go all the way back to the rear of the field to obtain cover. He added after allowing TOWERING STORM to slowly improve its position, he had hoped to cross to race in front of COOL BEAN and outside the leader, EMPEROR CLAUDIUS after the 1400 Metres, however, at this time SUPER PISTACHIO was shifted out away from the rail and because of this he was not able to obtain a position closer than three wide and was obliged to race without cover throughout the race. He added it had not been intended for TOWERING STORM to be ridden forward in today’s race, but the circumstances of the race had resulted in the horse having to race in a prominent position. N Pinna (PERCY JACKSON) was spoken to regarding him having raised his whip arm above the height of his shoulder. A veterinary inspection of AMBER DRAGON, TOWERING STORM and COOL BEAN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TODOS CON SUERTE and SUPER PISTACHIO were sent for sampling.