HK FEB 28 - COLLECTION STRIKES GOLD

By - Courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club | Monday, March 1, 2010

Hong Kong, February 28, 2010.
Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup (Group 1).
HK$ 8,000,000 - 2000m.
Going - Good. Course - Turf (B +2).
1 Collection; 2 Thumbs Up; 3 Mr Medici.
Race Time: 2-01.60.
Sectionals: 25.25; 24.50 (49.75); 25.73 (1-15.48); 23.31 (1-38.79). 22.81 (2-01.60).

Derby winner Collection blew away all doubts as to his fitness and earned a ticket to Dubai when he swept past a top class field to win the domestic Group 1 Citibank Hong Kong Gold Cup over 2000m by a length and a quarter at Sha Tin Racecourse on Sunday.

However, members of the John Moore Trainer Syndicate which owns the horse were kept in suspense for more than five minutes while Jockey Club Racing Stewards listened to an objection from Belgian ace Christophe Soumillon, the jockey of second placed Thumbs Up, who fired an objection citing interference in the final 150m.

The objection was eventually overruled.

Sent out as the top favourite in the HK$8 million event, Collection was a little slow to move and was taken to the rear of the field together with champion miler Good Ba Ba, who was attempting the 2000m for the first time in nearly four years, as Sight Winner set an even tempo up front with Packing Winner on his heels.

Jockey Darren Beadman only started his move halfway through the final turn and once into the straight Collection changed gears quickly, raced past the leaders and then hung in, causing some interference to Thumbs Up.

However, he was travelling too well at the time and stewards did not think the interference changed the result.

The consistent Mr Medici, who hit the front at the 200m, battled gamely to hold down third placing with Good Ba Ba, who had trailed Collection from the turn, finishing fourth.

"The horse had a nice run through the race and he was really enjoying the gallop," Beadman said.

"I wanted to let him be on his own for the first 100m. I knew they would go a little bit to the first corner trying to hold their positions and it was just a matter of trying to slot behind a certain horse at the time that was going to suit me and it worked out well."

"I was very confident as I knew the horse I was following in the run would take me well into the race. He wouldn't spin away from me or leave me flat footed so it was a matter of letting the horse get his confidence until well into the home straight and let him go through his gears gradually. When I asked him for an effort he got to the lead quite quickly," he added.

Beadman said the horse's attempt to cross over to the fence near the finish was not a worry for the future, adding "he's got outstanding ability.”

Moore confirmed members of the Syndicate had given the green light for an overseas trip.

"We will just see how the horse pulls up to make sure there are no cuts or anything that may be a deciding factor to not go but congratulations to Darren, he knows the horse like his own sons and daughters, a great ride," Moore said.

"I am not going to forget the stable. They put a lot of work into getting him there because he hasn't got the best feet in the world like Viva Pataca. It was a team effort and we look forward to either Dubai or going on to the Audemars Piguet QE II Cup."

Moore said he had full confidence in the horse even before the race as Beadman reported the Happy Valley trial was "exemplary."

Moore also said he had forgiven the run of Viva Pataca who finished sixth because jockey Weichong Marwing reported he did not get the best of runs along the rails in the straight and could not get out as horses raced past him.

"For that reason I'll forgive him and we'll move on to the QE II Cup and the Champions & Chater Cup," he added.

Thumbs Up was once again gallant in defeat and could have finished closer but for the interference. His trainer, Danny Shum, also pointed to the APQE II Cup for the next run.

Trainer Peter Ho was full of praise for Mr Medici who keeps racing above his rating and finishing close to Group winners. He was also satisfied with the run of Packing Winner who finished fifth, picking up some valuable stake money.

STEWARDS REPORT EXTRACT:
Thumbs Up was slow to begin and shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of Viva Pataca which shifted out. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, Thumbs Up was steadied away from the heels of Special Days which shifted in after being bumped by Mr Medici which itself was bumped by Able One which got its head up and proved difficult to settle in the early stages.

The Stewards considered a protest/objection lodged by C Soumillon, the rider of the second placegetter, Thumbs Up, against the winner Collection alleging interference to his mount near the 150m. After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that Collection shifted in near the 150m, resulting in Thumbs Up having to be checked.

However, having in mind that Collection had come from behind Thumbs Up in the early stages of the straight and also having regard to the finishing margin between the two horses at the end of the race, the Stewards were of the opinion that the protest/objection should be overruled and accordingly the Judge’s placings as semaphored were confirmed.

At a subsequent inquiry, D Beadman pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 150m he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of Thumbs Up, causing that horse to be checked. D Beadman was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday, 22 March 2010 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin race-meeting on Sunday, 14 March 2010.

In addition, D Beadman was fined $40,000 in lieu of a suspension which would incorporate one further race-day.

In this incident, Viva Pataca, which was following Thumbs Up, was steadied in consequence. Then over the concluding stages, Viva Pataca was held up for clear running behind Thumbs Up and consequently was not ridden out to the end of the race as it normally would be.

For the majority of the race, Able One travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, J Lloyd (Able One) said that he had been instructed to restrain the horse at the start and settle in last position. He said he was advised it would be preferable if he could follow Good Ba Ba in the run.

J Lloyd stated that Able One took some time to settle in the early stages, however, passing the winning post on the first occasion proved more tractable. He said when placed under pressure in the straight Able One did not finish off the race albeit he felt that the horse did not see out the 2000m of today’s race.

Trainer J Moore stated that prior to Able One being successful in the 2007 Champions Mile, the horse had not been a noted front runner. He said due to a lack of pace in that race, Able One was able to lead and won. He said because of this Able One had been ridden along in a forward position since that time, however, he has been of the view that Able One is capable of being ridden from behind.

He said with today’s race being over 2000m he did not believe Able One would be able to take up a forward position and finish off the race as he was of the view that the horse would race too freely. He said for this reason he instructed J Lloyd to take the horse back in the race with a view to hopefully being able to follow Good Ba Ba through the run. He said he did this in consultation with the owners of Able One.

Mr Moore was advised that the Stewards would review the recent history of Able One before concluding the matter. D Whyte (Special Days) advised that, in his opinion, the horse raced flat today. A veterinary inspection of Special Days after the race did not show any significant findings. Collection and Thumbs Up were sent for sampling.

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