02/11/2008  Shatin  Race 9

On jumping, BROM BROM, THUMBS UP and SLEEP WELL were taken back. Throughout the race, PLASTIC POLYMER travelled wide and without cover, then in the Straight gave ground and finished tailed out. The performance of PLASTIC POLYMER was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, PLASTIC POLYMER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. For some distance after the 400 Metres, BEAUTY EXPRESS had difficulty obtaining clear running between EYSHAL and GALLANT CHAMPION. Over the concluding stages, THUMBS UP improved into a narrow run between DANESIS and BEAUTY EXPRESS, then in the run to the line improved close to the heels of EYSHAL. Because of this, THUMBS UP could not be ridden out fully right to the end of the race. In the Straight, EYE WITNESS hung out. W C Marwing (GEM OF CHIU TON) said he had known the horse to be difficult in the barriers. He said prior to the race he had been instructed to have the horse in 3rd or 4th position if possible. He said after being boxed GEM OF CHIU TON became fractious and as a consequence lost a considerable amount of ground at the start. He said in the early stages of the race he rode GEM OF CHIU TON along and the horse was able to tack onto the field before leaving the Back Straight. He said GEM OF CHIU TON did make ground in the Home Straight, however, he was disappointed with the manner in which it closed the race off. He said in his opinion GEM OF CHIU TON did not appear to be striding out correctly behind. Mr P F Yiu, trainer of GEM OF CHIU TON, confirmed the intention had been to have the horse ridden in a forward position if possible. He said whilst he was disappointed with the performance of GEM OF CHIU TON today, bearing in mind the horse missed the start in the manner in which it did, it might not have been as disappointing as it might first appear. GEM OF CHIU TON was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. A veterinary inspection of GEM OF CHIU TON after the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, GEM OF CHIU TON will have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Z Purton (UPSIDE OF ANGER) said the horse had a history of proving difficult to ride and hanging out in its races. He said today from a wide barrier the intention was to have the horse ridden with cover and to do this it was thought he would have to take up a position behind midfield. He said in the early stages UPSIDE OF ANGER travelled satisfactorily, however, at the 1400 Metres when travelling in a three wide position UPSIDE OF ANGER again got its head on the side, commenced to hang out and would not settle for him. He said UPSIDE OF ANGER continued to over-race in the middle stages of the race after being left without cover making the turn at the 800 Metres. He said UPSIDE OF ANGER in the Home Straight closed the race off fairly in the Home Straight given the run it had had and the manner in which it raced. PLASTIC POLYMER and UPSIDE OF ANGER were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of PLASTIC POLYMER and UPSIDE OF ANGER after the race did not show any significant findings. EYSHAL and GALLANT CHAMPION were sent for sampling.