04/01/2009  Shatin  Race 6

After arriving in the saddling stalls, INDUSTRIAL MARVEL became fractious and lost its left front plate. This plate was replaced. The horse was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. MAGIC TEMPLE and TOP TOP LIGHT were slow to begin. SPECIAL K began awkwardly, shifted out and was checked away from the heels of GLOBAL WIN. Making the turn at the 700 Metres, SPECIAL K, which was racing ungenerously, was checked away from the heels of ROCKET POWER. After this, SPECIAL K commenced to hang out in the middle stages. In the early part of the Straight, SPECIAL K shifted out and bumped MAGIC TEMPLE, causing both horses to become unbalanced. On straightening, INDUSTRIAL MARVEL blundered after bumping with SOLAR MIGHTY which also became unbalanced. Over about the final 150 Metres, ROCKET POWER, which was closing the race off strongly, was not able to obtain clear running. Because of this, ROCKET POWER was not ridden out to the end of the race as it normally would be. For the major part of the Home Straight, DYNAMIC BLITZ was held up and unable to obtain clear running. Because of this, DYNAMIC BLITZ was not properly tested. For the major part of the race, TAIJI SPIRIT travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight hung in. When questioned, K T Yeung (RICE FIELD) said he had been told he should go forward and endeavour to race outside the lead in the early stages. He said he was instructed to endeavour to give RICE FIELD a breather making the turn at the 700 Metres if possible. He agreed that he had to make considerable use of his mount in the early stages to go forward and race outside the lead, however, he said because of the manner in which the riding instructions were given to him, he did not believe it was open to him to exercise discretion. Mr J Moore, trainer of RICE FIELD, confirmed the riding instructions issued. He said RICE FIELD was having its first start on the All Weather surface and he believed on form JOLLY GOOD FORTUNE and DYNAMIC BLITZ would go forward and either one of them might lead. He said he believed RICE FIELD would be able to obtain a forward position without having excessive use made of it in the early stages. He said he did not anticipate TAIJI SPIRIT being as far forward in the early stages which resulted in RICE FIELD being left racing wide and without cover. He conceded after reviewing the film that too much use was required to be made of RICE FIELD to obtain a position outside the lead. K T Yeung and Mr Moore were told their explanations would be reported and Mr Moore was also told he should avoid issuing riding instructions which prevent riders from using their discretion where appropriate. MAGIC TEMPLE was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of MAGIC TEMPLE after the race did not show any significant findings. DYNAMIC BLITZ, SOLAR MIGHTY and TOP TOP LIGHT were sent for sampling.