09/11/2014  Shatin  Race 3

BEAR RAPPER proved difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, BEAR RAPPER will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. DIAMOND MASTER began awkwardly and shortly after the start bumped SUPER TORNADO. SUM WIN DRAGON was slow to begin. GOOD METHOD began only fairly and shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of PLANET CHOICE which shifted out. Shortly after the start, CHINA POWER was bumped by BEAR RAPPER which shifted in after being awkwardly placed inside the heels of GLORY HORSIE which shifted ground. In the early stages, DIAMOND MASTER raced greenly and got its head up on a number of occasions, then near the 700 Metres shifted out abruptly when continuing to prove difficult to settle and awkwardly placed close to the heels of SHADOWFAXE. Passing the 600 Metres, BEAR RAPPER raced close to the heels of GLORY HORSIE. Passing the 500 Metres, CHINA POWER was shifted to the inside of DIAMOND MASTER after being awkwardly positioned outside that horse’s heels for a short distance leading up to this point. SHADOWFAXE got its head on the side and lay in after the 500 Metres. CHINA POWER and BEAR RAPPER raced tight passing the 300 Metres as a result of CHINA POWER shifting to the outside of the heels of SHADOWFAXE. Near the 150 Metres, BEAR RAPPER was held up for clear running behind DIAMOND MASTER and approaching the 100 Metres was shifted to the inside of that horse. After the 100 Metres, SHADOWFAXE, which continued to lay in, was awkwardly placed between SOLAR KINGDOM and BEAR RAPPER. When questioned regarding his riding of WILD BOY, M L Yeung stated that he had been asked to have the horse racing in a forward position and if possible position WILD BOY behind the leaders. He said on jumping WILD BOY and EXCITABLE BOY bumped and then after travelling a short distance WILD BOY was steadied away from the heels of EXCITABLE BOY which shifted out. He said at this time he received a call from his outside and as he felt that he may have caused interference to his outside as a result of the shift from EXCITABLE BOY, he steadied his mount to allow that horse to continue forward. He said after the 900 Metres he commenced to ride his mount along to see if it could improve its position and at this time he slapped the horse down the shoulder with the whip. He said despite this, WILD BOY did not show the speed in the early stages that he expected. He said near the 800 Metres DIAMOND MASTER was being vigorously ridden to his inside, was racing greenly and was shifting out towards the line of WILD BOY. He added that he had considered riding WILD BOY along more vigorously at this time to hold his position, however, he felt that the manner in which DIAMOND MASTER was racing may have resulted in interference being suffered by WILD BOY and therefore he elected to allow DIAMOND MASTER to improve forward of WILD BOY. He said whilst this resulted in WILD BOY racing further back in the field than had been anticipated, he did not believe that WILD BOY was showing sufficient early speed to consolidate its position outside DIAMOND MASTER at this time. He said as soon as he allowed DIAMOND MASTER to improve forward of WILD BOY approaching the 500 Metres, he immediately commenced to ride his mount along to improve its position. He said whilst WILD BOY initially took some time to gather momentum, the horse then closed off the race well over the latter stages. M L Yeung was advised that the Stewards had concerns regarding his riding of WILD BOY in the early stages. He was told that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he should have made a far greater endeavour to obtain a forward position than he did on this occasion. He was also told to ensure that he rides his mounts in order to comply with his instructions wherever possible and to leave no room for query as to his intentions to fulfil those instructions. A veterinary inspection of WILD BOY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PLANET CHOICE and EXCITABLE BOY were sent for sampling.