12/06/2016  Shatin  Race 8

AH BO was slow to begin. FINE ROCK and KIROV bumped at the start. FINE ROCK then shifted in and bumped PLENTY OF SPEED which was hampered when crowded for room outside SNOW SLIDER which became unbalanced after being bumped by PLENTY OF SPEED. Shortly after the start, COUR VALANT was momentarily steadied away from the heels of FIVE STARS AGENT. From a wide barrier, WINNING STAR was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 1200 Metres, KIROV, which was being steadied to obtain cover, momentarily raced in restricted room between A BEAUTIFUL and FINE ROCK which shifted out marginally. Passing the 1100 Metres, COUR VALANT was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SPICY DOUBLE. A BEAUTIFUL travelled keenly in the early stages. After the 900 Metres, FINE ROCK was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 500 Metres, WINGOLD was shifted out away from the heels of PLENTY OF SPEED after being awkwardly placed behind that horse. AH BO (G Lerena), which was racing outside WINGOLD, got its head on the side and shifted out away from that horse. After the race, G Lerena reported that AH BO had a tendency to hang out throughout the race. D Whyte (MAGIC STAR) and H W Lai (A BEAUTIFUL) dropped their whip near the 350 Metres and approaching the 300 Metres respectively. Both riders were advised that as this was the third occasion that they had dropped their whip in races during the current season, they were placed on notice that they may be penalized should they again drop their whip in a race in the near future. Passing the 300 Metres, COUR VALANT got its head on the side and shifted ground. Passing the 200 Metres, FIVE STARS AGENT, which was commencing to give ground, was momentarily eased away from the heels of FINE ROCK when taken out by WINGOLD. In the Straight, A BEAUTIFUL shifted out under pressure. When questioned, Z Purton stated that, from the outside barrier, he had been asked to be positive on WONDERFUL CHASER as it was felt that the horse would have sufficient speed to clear runners to its inside and obtain a forward position. He said WONDERFUL CHASER began well and he immediately commenced to ride the horse along, however, WONDERFUL CHASER did not show as much early speed as he anticipated and the horse was left racing very wide after the 1200 Metres. He said rather than continue to pursue a forward position and make too much use of WONDERFUL CHASER, he elected to steady the horse and obtain a position with cover. He said after the 1100 Metres A BEAUTIFUL maintained its position to the inside of WONDERFUL CHASER and as he was still very wide, he had to further steady WONDERFUL CHASER to obtain a trailing position initially behind A BEAUTIFUL and then behind KIROV after the 900 Metres. He said making the first turn near the 800 Metres WONDERFUL CHASER became unbalanced in its action and then did not travel as strongly as he anticipated. He added he balanced the horse in the early part of the Straight before commencing to ride it out, however, WONDERFUL CHASER did not finish off the race and, in his opinion, did not handle today's track conditions. A veterinary inspection of WONDERFUL CHASER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of AH BO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SUPERIOR BOY, A BEAUTIFUL and COUR VALANT were sent for sampling.