14/11/2010  Shatin  Race 2

SUGAR ON TOP and NICE KING were slow to begin. From the outside barrier, EASY GOLD was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Shortly after the start, NAMJONG HUNTER and SNITZEL KID bumped. In the early stages, GENERAL DANROAD proved difficult to settle. When being steadied to allow NAMJONG HUNTER to cross near the 900 Metres, GOOD BOY BOY got its head up and shifted out, resulting in MANY GAINS being hampered. Near the 900 Metres, SUPER HERO (Y T Cheng) propped, became badly unbalanced and lost a significant amount of ground. Y T Cheng explained that after this incident, SUPER HERO’s action did not feel comfortable and as he felt that there may have been something amiss with the horse, he eased it down. In this incident, LOMBARDI was checked away from the heels of SUPER HERO and shifted out and OPEN SESAME, which was following, was steadied in consequence. A short distance later, EASY GOLD was also steadied away from the heels of SUPER HERO. A veterinary inspection of SUPER HERO after the race did not show any significant findings other than the horse had a significant amount of mucopus in the trachea. Trainer C H Yip was advised that the racing manners of SUPER HERO were considered unacceptable. The Stewards ruled that prior to being permitted to race again, SUPER HERO must barrier trial satisfactorily around a bend and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Passing the 800 Metres, SURROUNDED was awkwardly placed close to the heels of KING AND I which shifted ground when racing greenly. Then near the 700 Meters, SURROUNDED was again awkwardly placed close to the heels of KING AND I which itself lost ground when racing greenly and shifting out towards the heels of SNITZEL KID. In this incident, SURROUNDED shifted out, resulting in OPEN SESAME being taken wider. Passing the 700 Metres, LOMBARDI was steadied away from the heels of SNITZEL KID. Inside the 100 Metres, MARIACHI was shifted out across the heels of GOOD BOY BOY to continue improving. Throughout the race, SNITZEL KID travelled wide and without cover. After the race, Apprentice M L Yeung (EASY GOLD) reported that the horse was making an abnormal breathing noise during the race. A veterinary inspection of EASY GOLD after the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, B Prebble stated that KING AND I, which was having its first race start in Hong Kong today, raced very greenly and shifted ground on a number of occasions in the early and middle stages. He said after making the first turn awkwardly and losing ground, KING AND I became badly unbalanced approaching the 700 Metres and, in his opinion, felt as though it slipped behind. He said after this KING AND I travelled only fairly. He said he tested KING AND I rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, however, the horse came under pressure after the 400 Metres and despite being ridden along gave ground. A veterinary inspection of KING AND I after the race did not show any significant findings. GOOD BOY BOY and MARIACHI were sent for sampling.