15/02/2009  Shatin  Race 7

From wide barriers, DANZULU and FIRST BABY were taken back in the early stages. Shortly after the start, SOHNA was bumped by SEVENS HEAVEN which shifted out after bumping with SILVER BLAZE. Shortly after this, SOHNA and SEVENS HEAVEN lost their positions when crowded for room between MIGHTY SUN which shifted in and SILVER BLAZE which shifted out further. Near the 1300 Metres, HAPPY MASTER was steadied back to a position with cover. For some distance after the 1000 Metres, SILVER BLAZE was hampered and raced tight inside ELITE SIXTY-SIX (D Beadman) which was shifting in. As a result of this, SILVER BLAZE was carried to the fence. In the circumstances, D Beadman was severely reprimanded. When SILVER BLAZE was carried to the fence, PACHINKO, which was following, was steadied to avoid that horse’s heels and in turn SOHNA was steadied to avoid the heels of PACHINKO. At the 300 Metres, TOUCH MORE, which was commencing to give ground, was steadied away from the heels of SILVER BLAZE which was carried wider as it improved towards the outside of FLY ME TO THE MOON which shifted ground. At the 250 Metres, DANZULU, which for some distance had been experiencing difficulty obtaining clear running, was steadied when disappointed for running between DANABAA and ELITE SIXTY-SIX. Near the 100 Metres, SOHNA was bumped on the hindquarters by SILVER BLAZE which when racing in restricted room outside FLY ME TO THE MOON was carried wider by that horse which got its head up and shifted out. In the Straight, FIRST BABY hung in. When questioned, O Doleuze (DANABAA) said his mount which began from barrier 3 travelled into a forward position as anticipated. He said GOAL KEEPER which had drawn inside him was hard ridden to lead on the fence. He said DANABAA did not show sufficient speed to cross that horse in the early stages and then when being steadied to a position to race outside the lead commenced to over-race badly and would not settle. He said in the past when DANABAA had not relaxed in its races it failed to finish the race off. He said because of this he elected to shift DANABAA wider on the track after the 1200 Metres in the hope that if racing away from other runners, the horse would then relax and travel more kindly for him. He said DANABAA continued to over race badly making the turn at the 800 Metres, then when GOAL KEEPER hung out on his inside near the 600 Metres DANABAA was inclined to shift out away from that horse and because of this made the Home Turn wide. He said in the early part of the Straight DANABAA kept on, however, over the final 200 Metres failed to finish its race off. He said immediately following the race he recommended to Mr P F Yiu, the trainer of DANABAA, that he consider removing the blinkers from the gear of the horse. Apprentice K C Leung (GOAL KEEPER) explained after the 600 Metres he allowed his mount to drift wider on the track as in his opinion the going was better away from the rail. D Beadman (ELITE SIXTY-SIX), 4th placegetter, was reminded of his responsibility to ride his mounts out at least hands and heels to the end of the race where circumstances permit. When questioned regarding the poor performance of last start winner, PACHINKO, W C Marwing was not able to offer any explanation for the performance of the horse. He said PACHINKO was stepping back up in distance today to 1400 Metres. He said he did apply a little pressure to PACHINKO in the early stages to obtain a midfield position and in his opinion the horse travelled comfortably in the run. He said when asked to quicken after straightening PACHINKO failed to respond to his riding and did not close the race off. He said the work of PACHINKO leading into today’s race in his opinion was good and he therefore felt the horse had a strong chance. He did say following the race Mr D E Ferraris, the trainer of the horse, had expressed to him that PACHINKO despite stepping up in distance might have been better suited ridden more quietly to enable it to close the race off as it had when it was successful at its last start. PACHINKO was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of PACHINKO after the race did not show any significant findings. ELITE SIXTY-SIX, DANZULU and FIRST BABY were sent for sampling.