03/11/2013  Shatin  Race 9

After being loaded, a number of runners became fractious including BOY OH BOY which broke through the front gates. BOY OH BOY was quickly restrained, returned to the Start and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said, after the necessary consultations, the horse was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, BOY OH BOY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. AFFLUENCE OF RAIN and BERLINSKI bumped at the start. Shortly after the start, EXCITING DREAM raced tight between SWIFT SHADOW and BOTH SURE which shifted in after being bumped by SUPREME FLIGHT. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, THE UNTOUCHABLELAD would not stretch out and became detached from the field. Near the 350 Metres, KING OF HOUSEHOLD was steadied away from the heels of FAT CHOY HONG KONG (G Mosse) which shifted in. G Mosse was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground in future. KING OF HOUSEHOLD was then unable to obtain clear running until over the concluding stages and because of this was not able to be properly tested. BERLINSKI was held up and unable to obtain clear running until passing the 250 Metres. When questioned, O Doleuze (BOY OH BOY) stated that he was reluctant to ride his mount along in the early stages as when he did so last start with the blinkers on, BOY OH BOY proved very difficult to settle, over-raced and consequently did not finish off the race. He said with the blinkers remaining on in today’s race, he felt that he would have had to ride BOY OH BOY along to clear BERLINSKI to its inside as that horse was travelling strongly. He said after allowing a number of horses to cross BOY OH BOY to obtain cover, BOY OH BOY, passing the 1100 Metres, again commenced to prove very difficult to settle, got its head up on a number of occasions and making the first turn got its head on the side and shifted out. He added after this BOY OH BOY raced without cover and continued to travel keenly for some distance. He said whilst the blinkers have aided BOY OH BOY by allowing the horse to be able to travel in a good position in its races, at this time it is tending to over-race with that piece of gear on and because of this it is not able to close off its race as strongly as it did towards the end of last season. Mr K W Lui, the trainer of FLYING CHAPARRAL, stated that it was the intention for the horse to be taken across behind runners from barrier 14 as it had not been finishing off its races, particularly when ridden into forward positions from wide barriers. BOY OH BOY, FAT CHOY HONG KONG and SWIFT SHADOW were sent for sampling.