07/11/2009  Shatin  Race 9

BIG CHIEF was withdrawn on 5.11.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (substantial amount of mucopus in trachea on scoping after track work) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter CHINA LUJIA. Before being allowed to race again, BIG CHIEF will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. From the outside barrier, PACKING COMMANDER was taken across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the first turn, MR CELERITY lost ground when steadied away from the heels of CIRCUIT HERO. Rounding the first turn, LEGEND was momentarily crowded for room inside CIRCUIT HERO which got its head on the side and shifted in momentarily. Over the concluding stages, CAT STORM was restrained when racing in restricted room between MY MEMORY which was laying out and MAELSTROM which shifted in under pressure. When questioned regarding the poor performance of GOOD LUCK WIN, H W Lai stated that, as previously instanced, it is a horse that prefers to race on the running rail, however, when MY MEMORY held its position to the inside of GOOD LUCK WIN, he was obliged to race in a one-off position. He said shortly after entering the Straight GOOD LUCK WIN commenced to give ground and then weakened badly in the Straight. Mr P F Yiu, the trainer of GOOD LUCK WIN, reiterated his advice to the Stewards after it was successful at its most recent run that the horse’s improved performance was principally due to being able to race on the rail. He said the horse has previously shown that when it was not able to find the running rail, it did not race genuinely. He added that he considered stepping GOOD LUCK WIN up in distance in the hope that the horse may be able to find the running rail in the early stages. A veterinary inspection of GOOD LUCK WIN after the race did not show any significant findings. In the circumstances, the performance of GOOD LUCK WIN was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, GOOD LUCK WIN will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of FLYING SUPREME after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. LEGEND and MY MEMORY were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that CIRCUIT HERO and PACKING COMMANDER had bled from both nostrils.