01/01/2014  Shatin  Race 7

HAPPY CENTENARY lost it right front plate shortly after the start. Passing the 1500 Metres, DRAGON GLORY, which had been ridden along to obtain a forward position and FUN HEROES were crowded for room outside BLOSSOM DAILY which shifted out. Also passing the 1500 Metres, SMART UNION was steadied when crowded for room between DRAGON GLORY and FUN HEROES (N Callan) which shifted in. N Callan was reprimanded. After the 1200 Metres, DRAGON GLORY was steadied when awkwardly placed close to the heels of HEY CHEERS which was awkwardly placed inside OPTIMIZATION STAR. FUN HEROES, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of DRAGON GLORY in consequence. SMART UNION, which was following FUN HEROES, was also inconvenienced. After the 1000 Metres, DRAGON GLORY got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of HEY CHEERS. After the 900 Metres, FLYING IN was taken into a position four wide without cover when FUN HEROES shifted to the outside of DRAGON GLORY. Both HEY CHEERS and FLORAL MAN had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Passing the 300 Metres, FLYING IBIS had difficulty obtaining clear running and then passing the 200 Metres was shifted out across the heels of FUN HEROES to obtain clear running. DRAGON GLORY was unable to obtain clear running until after the 200 Metres. Throughout the race, KING HARADASUN travelled wide and without cover. SMART UNION shifted its right hind plate during the race. When questioned, T Angland stated that it had been intended for DRAGON GLORY to be ridden in a forward position. He said as the start was effected, DRAGON GLORY lifted its front feet off the ground, shifted in and bumped BLOSSOM DAILY. He said he then rode his mount along to obtain a forward position, however, DRAGON GLORY was hampered when awkwardly placed outside BLOSSOM DAILY after the 1500 Metres. He said he allowed his mount to continue to take up a forward position, however, there were a number of runners shifting in to DRAGON GLORY’s outside and he felt that he would have had to make too much use of DRAGON GLORY to consolidate its position inside HEY CHEERS particularly given that his mount had to be ridden along in the early stages to assume a forward position. He added rather than be interfered with, he elected to steady his mount after the 1200 Metres and allow HEY CHEERS to cross DRAGON GLORY. He said this resulted in DRAGON GLORY racing further back in the field than had been intended. When questioned, W M Lai (OPTIMIZATION STAR) stated that he had been provided with two sets of instructions. He said he was told that if OPTIMIZATION STAR began satisfactorily, he should attempt to overcome the horse’s barrier (10) by allowing it to travel into a forward position behind the leaders if possible. He said he was also told that if OPTIMIZATION STAR did not begin well, he should take the horse across behind runners in the early stages. He said when OPTIMIZATION STAR began satisfactorily, he rode his mount along in the initial stages and then was able to obtain a forward position without having to be further pressured. He said OPTIMIZATION STAR was then able to obtain a position one out and one back behind COOL PAL. Trainer D J Hall confirmed that he had given alternate instructions to Jockey Lai. He said he was mindful of the horse’s light weight in today’s race and he felt that its chances may be advanced if it were to be ridden more forward so as to provide it with more opportunity to obtain clear running. He said last start the horse over-raced with blinkers on and had to be checked on a number of occasions when being ridden from back in the field. He added he now intends to consider removing blinkers from OPTIMIZATION STAR’s gear in the near future. HAPPY CENTENARY and HEY CHEERS were sent for sampling.