11/03/2018  Shatin  Race 10

SUPER FUN began awkwardly. SACRED IBIS shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of SMILING PRIDE, causing both horses to become unbalanced. Shortly after the start, SANGRIA was steadied away from the heels of GOLD LAND which shifted out. From the outside barriers, BIGWOOD and SALTO OLIMPICO were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. BIGWOOD got its head on the side and hung out passing the 300 Metres, resulting in its rider having to change the whip into his left hand approaching the 200 Metres. BIGWOOD then shifted back in approaching the 100 Metres under pressure. Passing the 250 Metres, GOLD LAND, which was giving ground, shifted out away from SANGRIA which shifted to the outside of AGREE to obtain clear running. Throughout the race, FEARLESS FIRE travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, N Rawiller stated that he was under no specific instructions on how to ride DIAMOND DRAGON but it was felt that the horse would obtain a position behind midfield. He said DIAMOND DRAGON can be difficult to manage and when DIAMOND DRAGON began particularly well today, he did not believe it would be in the best interests of the horse to restrain it, therefore he allowed DIAMOND DRAGON to maintain its prominent position rather than fight against it and this resulted in DIAMOND DRAGON racing far more prominently than had been anticipated. He said making the first turn DIAMOND DRAGON got its head on the side and lay out, however, he was able to shift the horse back in to race outside the leader EVEREST after the 800 Metres. He added DIAMOND DRAGON still finished off the race well in the Straight. When questioned, K Teetan stated that it was hoped that stepping back up to 1600 Metres would provide SACRED IBIS with the opportunity to travel handier in the field and obtain a position behind midfield rather than getting too far out of its ground. He said however in the early stages SACRED IBIS was reluctant to maintain its position which required him to ride the horse along for some distance to ensure that SACRED IBIS did not get too far out of its ground. He said he was required to continually ride the horse along when racing at the rear of the field and whilst it was available to him to shift across to the rail in the middle stages, having regard to the manner in which SACRED IBIS finishes off its race, he felt that it was better to have the horse race away from the rail so as to be able to immediately shift to the outside of runners at the entrance to the Straight. He said it was not until rounding the Home Turn that SACRED IBIS commenced to travel better and then when brought to the outside of other horses at the entrance to the Straight SACRED IBIS then finished off the race strongly. A veterinary inspection of GOLD LAND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SACRED IBIS, EVEREST and SANGRIA were sent for sampling.