24/05/2015  Shatin  Race 1

After being loaded, PEOPLE’S KNIGHT became fractious, resulting in its rider, J Moreira’s left ankle being trapped between the horse and the barrier partition. J Moreira dismounted from PEOPLE’S KNIGHT and was examined by the Club’s medical officer who, after the necessary consultations, ruled that J Moreira was fit to fulfil his riding engagement. Before being allowed to race again, PEOPLE’S KNIGHT will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. After the race, J Moreira was again examined by the Club’s medical officer and passed fit to fulfil his remaining race riding engagements. LUCKY GIFT was slow to begin and shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of GOOD FOR YOU which was bumped and taken out by PEOPLE’S KNIGHT which began awkwardly and shifted out. JIMSON THE FAMOUS began awkwardly and shifted in and shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of BLAZING PASS. When questioned, D Lane stated that it had been intended for HAPPY CHAPPY to be ridden in a forward position as the horse had raced well previously when ridden in this manner and was also ridden similarly in a barrier trial in the lead up to today’s race. He said HAPPY CHAPPY began only fairly and it soon became apparent to him that horses drawn inside HAPPY CHAPPY, most notably HIGHLAND HAMMER and PEOPLE’S KNIGHT, were clearly showing more early speed than HAPPY CHAPPY. He said it was available for him to ride his mount along in the early stages to take up a forward position, but having in mind the manner in which it began and the fact that other horses were showing superior early speed, he believed he would have had to make too much use of HAPPY CHAPPY to obtain a forward position and therefore he felt it was more advantageous for the horse to be shifted across in the early stages behind runners to race as close to the outside rail as possible. He said accordingly he shifted HAPPY CHAPPY across to race behind DRAGON HARMONY passing the 800 Metres which resulted in the horse having to race further back in the field than had been intended. He added at the 400 Metres he made his finishing run slightly behind the eventual winner NEW ASIA SUNRISE and after initially quickening well, HAPPY CHAPPY then closed off one-paced. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HIGHLAND HAMMER, Z Purton stated that today his mount paraded similarly to its previous starts. He said HIGHLAND HAMMER again showed good early speed to be able to cross the majority of the field and established a position to be racing inside the leader CIRCUIT KING in the early stages. He said HIGHLAND HAMMER travelled in a similar manner to its previous starts in the early and middle stages, however, today came under pressure near the 400 Metres. He added as HIGHLAND HAMMER was inclined to lay in, he changed the whip over into his right hand approaching the 300 Metres, however, when placed under pressure, HIGHLAND HAMMER was disappointing in its failure to provide any response and the manner in which it weakened over the concluding stages of the race. A veterinary inspection of HIGHLAND HAMMER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. HIGHLAND HAMMER, NEW ASIA SUNRISE and CIRCUIT KING were sent for sampling.