01/07/2016  Shatin  Race 5

UNBEATABLE GUTS was withdrawn on 30.6.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter TRUE COMMENT (H W Lai). Before being allowed to race again, UNBEATABLE GUTS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Shortly after the start, XINJIANG YARN and WINGOLD were crowded for room between SUPERNATURAL and GORGEOUS LEGEND which shifted out. Also shortly after the start, SUPERNATURAL was steadied when momentarily crowded for room between WINGOLD and TRIUMPHANT DRAGON which shifted in marginally. Shortly after the start, STEP HIGH and HOUSE OF FUN raced tight between REWARDING FLYER and BEST HOPE, both of which shifted ground. From the outside barrier, TRUE COMMENT was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. A veterinary inspection of TRUE COMMENT, which finished tailed out, immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg. The performance of TRUE COMMENT was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, TRUE COMMENT 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 700 Metres, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON raced tight between SUPER FORM and XINJIANG YARN which shifted out. Passing the 400 Metres, WINGOLD was shifted in away from the heels of TRIUMPHANT DRAGON. Passing the 350 Metres, SUPER FORM became unbalanced when momentarily crowded for room between REWARDING FLYER which shifted in marginally and TRIUMPHANT DRAGON which, after shifting out, was then directed in to relieve the tightening to SUPER FORM. In this incident, REWARDING FLYER became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by SUPER FORM. Passing the 250 Metres, SUPERNATURAL was shifted in away from the heels of GORGEOUS LEGEND after being held up for clear running behind that horse. At the 150 Metres, XINJIANG YARN was shifted in away from the heels of BEST HOPE which was giving ground. STEP HIGH was unable to secure clear running from passing the 400 Metres until after the 100 Metres. When questioned, D Whyte stated that he was instructed to go forward on FINE ROCK and lead if possible. He said in the early stages he rode his mount along, however, FINE ROCK did not show the same speed as BEST HOPE and AZTEC EMPIRE which were crossing from wide draws and he felt that he would have had to ride FINE ROCK too aggressively in the early stages to lead. He said therefore hr allowed those two horses to cross FINE ROCK and when AZTEC EMPIRE crossed BEST HOPE near the 1100 Metres, he attempted to improve his position on FINE ROCK to prevent BEST HOPE from shifting out, however, FINE ROCK got its head on the side, lay out and was reluctant to improve its position at this time. He added passing the 1100 Metres he noticed that the rider of BEST HOPE was commencing to shift that horse out and given the manner in which FINE ROCK was travelling at this time, he did not believe it was available for him to ride forward to prevent BEST HOPE from shifting out. He said rather he attempted to steady FINE ROCK and obtain a trailing position behind that horse. He said however at this time FINE ROCK continued to lay out and then got its head up when being steadied as the tempo of the race slowed appreciably. He said due to the racing manners of FINE ROCK and the fact that GORGEOUS LEGEND was able to improve its position to be racing inside FINE ROCK, FINE ROCK was then left racing in a three wide position without cover near the 900 Metres. He said as the tempo of the race was quite slow, he then rode his mount along after the 800 Metres to see whether FINE ROCK could improve its position forward of BEST HOPE. He said however that BEST HOPE improved with FINE ROCK and this resulted in FINE ROCK continuing to travel three wide and without cover. He further stated that after the 600 Metres FINE ROCK again got its head on the side, lay out and made the Home Turn awkwardly. D Whyte was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, in the opinion of the Stewards, whilst it was evident that his mount was laying out, he should have made more of an effort to improve his position after AZTEC EMPIRE crossed BEST HOPE in an endeavour to prevent that horse from shifting out. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HOUSE OF FUN, J Moreira stated that in the early stages he attempted to obtain a position with cover behind FINE ROCK. He said he was not able to shift across behind that horse in the early stages due to GORGEOUS LEGEND maintaining its position to the inside of HOUSE OF FUN. He said the tempo of the race then steadied which meant that HOUSE OF FUN was initially left racing in three wide position without cover. He said during this time HOUSE OF FUN travelled keenly and would not relax. He said when FINE ROCK was taken into a position three wide without cover, he was able to obtain cover behind that horse after initially being awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse near the 800 Metres due to HOUSE OF FUN continuing to travel keenly. He added after he was able to settle into a trailing position behind FINE ROCK, the horse settled better, however, he was not able to improve his position when FINE ROCK attempted to go forward of BEST HOPE as HOUSE OF FUN was not travelling as strongly as he had hoped. He said in the Straight HOUSE OF FUN was then disappointing in that it finished off the race one-paced. He said, in his opinion, the manner in which HOUSE OF FUN travelled keenly in the early stages when racing without cover was the principal reason for the horse's disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of HOUSE OF FUN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of AZTEC EMPIRE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HOUSE OF FUN, ARGENTUM and XINJIANG YARN were sent for sampling.