04/10/2009  Shatin  Race 2

ROYAL DOMAIN and WINNING STRATEGY were slow to begin. BERNINI jumped out at the start, resulting in WING MASTER being taken out onto the hindquarters of MYSTERIOUS which became badly unbalanced. Approaching the 600 Metres, COOL RUNNINGS was checked away from the heels of MYSTERIOUS. GO STITCH and COOL RUNNINGS were held up for clear running from the entrance to the Straight until passing the 300 Metres. TOP SPEED was unable to obtain clear running over the final 200 Metres and consequently was not tested. Over the final 50 Metres, WINNING STRATEGY was bumped on a number of occasions by BERNINI when racing tight between ROYAL DOMAIN and BERNINI which was taken in slightly by WIKI WIKI. In this incident, WINNING STRATEGY also bumped with ROYAL DOMAIN, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. Throughout the race, HEALTHY CONTENDER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Z Purton (GO STITCH) stated that he had been instructed to endeavour to ride the horse in midfield if possible. He said that he had been advised when ridden forward in previous starts, GO STITCH had failed to finish off its races. He said despite GO STITCH beginning very well, having in mind his instructions, he steadied his mount shortly after the start in an endeavour to obtain a position in midfield, however, GO STITCH was caught wide in the early stages and for this reason he was obliged to take the horse back further than had been anticipated in an attempt to get the horse closer to the running rail. A veterinary inspection of TOP SPEED and PRIMIATA after the race did not show any significant findings. CHEERFUL HAPPINESS and WIKI WIKI were sent for sampling.