16/05/2010  Shatin  Race 7

HOT ASSET was withdrawn on 14.5.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind) and was replaced by first Standby Declared Starter NICKU (Apprentice K W Leung). CRISTAL MAGNUM was withdrawn on 15.5.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter SHARP BOY (J Lloyd). Before being allowed to race again, HOT ASSET and CRISTAL MAGNUM will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being loaded, NICKU broke through the front gates. After travelling a short distance, NICKU was returned to the Start and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, NICKU will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. MAKE IT was slow to begin. After beginning well, COMPACT YARN was not able to obtain cover and consequently raced wide throughout. Despite being aggressively ridden in the early stages, CONQUEROR failed to muster speed and raced back in the field. On straightening, RECORD HIGH was steadied when disappointed for running between WIN WIN CHARMS and SHARP BOY. Approaching the 300 Metres, RECORD HIGH was steadied for some distance when awkwardly placed on the heels of WIN WIN CHARMS which shifted out slightly. Approaching the 200 Metres, AMBITIOUS DRAGON, which had a tendency to hang in, was directed out away from the heels of COMPACT YARN which shifted out under pressure. Over the concluding stages, both FUN HEROES and AMBITIOUS DRAGON shifted out under pressure. SAMMY’S FALCON travelled wide and without cover throughout. When questioned, O Doleuze stated that he had been instructed, from the outside barrier, to take up a forward position on BEAUTIFUL CHOICE and if the tempo was satisfactory, to lead the race. He said BEAUTIFUL CHOICE, which was dropping back in distance to 1400 Metres and was carrying 133 lbs, began fairly, he rode the horse along in the early stages to go forward, however, SPECTACULAR AWARD, which was drawn inside BEAUTIFUL CHOICE, showed superior speed. He said he continued to niggle at BEAUTIFUL CHOICE to have it pick up the bit, however, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE did not muster speed and for this reason approaching the 1200 Metres he elected to shift BEAUTIFUL CHOICE behind SPECTACULAR AWARD and obtain a position with cover rather than be caught unnecessarily wide. He said, apart from a brief period rounding the Home Turn, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE did not travel as it has previously and, in his opinion, was disappointing. G Cheyne reported that MAKE IT felt short in its action and as he thought that something might have been amiss with the horse, he eased it down over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of MAKE IT after the race did not show any significant findings. JIMSON THE BEST, FUN HEROES and AMBITIOUS DRAGON were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that LOTS OF FUN had lost its left hind plate.