24/04/2016  Shatin  Race 6

TEAM SWEET began only fairly and shortly after the start was crowded for room between VOLITATION and ENERGETIC CLASS which shifted in. ELECTRONIC PHOENIX and IMPERIAL SEAL made heavy contact on jumping. HAPPY THREE shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of HAPPY AND HEALTHY. Despite being aggressively ridden in the early stages, GOOD FOR YOU failed to muster speed. HAPPY AND HEALTHY lost its right front plate after the 1200 Metres. After the 1000 Metres, GOOD FOR YOU shifted out away from the heels of HAPPY AND HEALTHY. At the 500 Metres, IMPERIAL SEAL became unbalanced when bumped and taken wider by RAINBOW GOLD which got its head on the side and shifted out away from ENERGETIC CLASS despite the efforts of its rider. In the early part of the Straight, HASTILY FEET raced in restricted room between SO CAFFE and RAINBOW GOLD. After the 200 Metres, ELECTRONIC PHOENIX was taken wider by ENERGETIC CLASS which shifted out under pressure. Throughout the race, RAINBOW GOLD, IMPERIAL SEAL and GOOD FOR YOU travelled wide and without cover. The performance of RAINBOW GOLD, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, RAINBOW GOLD will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, O Doleuze (SO CAFFE) stated that his mount travelled well until being placed under pressure at which point the horse came off the bridle and then did not finish off the race. He said, in his opinion, SO CAFFE did not handle today's track conditions. A veterinary inspection of SO CAFFE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding his riding of ELECTRONIC PHOENIX in the Straight, Z Purton stated that when he rode the horse to run 4th on 31 January this year, he rode it vigorously in the Straight and, in his opinion, ELECTRONIC PHOENIX, after appearing as though it was going to win the race, did not finish off as he expected which gave him the impression that it may not have responded well to being ridden with the whip. He added in today's race ELECTRONIC PHOENIX quickened very well after the 400 Metres to make up a considerable amount of ground and, given the manner in which it was finishing off the race, he elected not to use the whip on the horse but rode it out vigorously hands and heels in the hope that it would finish off the race in a more genuine manner than had previously when ridden by him. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of VOLITATION, J Moreira stated that his mount travelled well in the early and middle stages, however, as soon as he placed the horse under pressure in the early part of the Straight VOLITATION immediately came under pressure. He said VOLITATION became unbalanced and did not show the same turn of foot that it did at its last start when successful. He added the only reason he could offer for the horse's disappointing performance, given that it ran well at its previous start, was the rain affected track surface today. A veterinary inspection of VOLITATION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that an endoscopic examination conducted on HAPPY AND HEALTHY found that horse to have a substantial amount of blood in its trachea. Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY AND HEALTHY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of GOOD FOR YOU immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. VOLITATION, ENERGETIC CLASS and ELECTRONIC PHOENIX were sent for sampling.