01/02/2015  Shatin  Race 8

After being loaded, CLEVER BEAVER became fractious and reared. Before being allowed to race again, CLEVER BEAVER will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. DA VINCI began only fairly. MIGHTY EQUUS began awkwardly and made contact with MASTER PINNACLE. MIGHTY EQUUS was then bumped by MASTER PINNACLE which was taken in by CLEVER BEAVER. After this, MIGHTY EQUUS was shifted across behind runners. Making the first turn near the 900 Metres, MASTER PINNACLE commenced to prove difficult to settle, got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of SIGHT SEEING. After the 900 Metres, CLEVER BEAVER was left racing wide and without cover. DA VINCI was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight. When questioned, M Demuro (BOSSIEE) stated that in the early part of the Straight he was held up for clear running behind DASHING CERAMIBO, SILLY BUDDIES and CLEVER BEAVER. He said near the 350 Metres he shifted his mount out from behind DASHING CERAMIBO to follow SILLY BUDDIES so that he was able to improve either inside or outside of that horse if a run developed. He said approaching the 300 Metres CLEVER BEAVER shifted out slightly which commenced to present a tight run between that horse and SILLY BUDDIES. He said he immediately commenced to ride his mount along to improve into this run, however, BOSSIEE got its head on the side, lay in and was reluctant to shift out. He said for this reason he changed his whip from his left hand into his right hand in an endeavour to encourage BOSSIEE to shift out into the run which was available. He said he rode his mount along vigorously to have it improve into the run, however, the horse continued to lay in and it was not until near the 150 Metres that he was able to shift it out from behind SILLY BUDDIES to improve between that horse and CLEVER BEAVER. He added he then commenced to ride his mount along, however, near the 100 Metres BOSSIEE shifted out and became unbalanced after bumping CLEVER BEAVER. He said he had ridden BOSSIEE hard to improve between SILLY BUDDIES and CLEVER BEAVER early in the Straight, however, the horse’s racing manners were the reason for it not being able to improve into clear running prior to the 150 Metres. When questioned, J Moreira stated that, from barrier 12, he was asked to ride SIGHT SEEING more conservatively and hopefully to obtain a position in midfield with cover. He said it was felt that due to the make-up of the field, too much use would have to be made of SIGHT SEEING in the early stages in order to take up a forward position and that there was a possibility that SIGHT SEEING would be left racing wide and without cover. He said passing the 1000 Metres he was left racing in a four wide position outside TONYBOY, therefore he elected to further steady his mount and obtain a position with cover behind that horse which resulted in SIGHT SEEING racing slightly further back in the field than had been intended. He said SIGHT SEEING travelled satisfactorily in the early and middle stages and when the pace quickened after the 500 Metres, the horse commenced to work its way into the race. He added however that shortly after entering the Straight SIGHT SEEING came under pressure and was disappointing in the manner in which it closed off the race. A veterinary inspection of SIGHT SEEING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on TONYBOY at the request of Trainer A T Millard. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, TONYBOY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SILLY BUDDIES and BOSSIEE were sent for sampling.