24/01/2010  Shatin  Race 9

A WALK IN THE PARK was withdrawn on 22.1.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter AMBITIOUS OWNER (S K Sit). Before being allowed to race again, A WALK IN THE PARK will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ROMA THUNDER was slow to begin. From the outside barriers, ETERNAL BEAUTY and EASTERN EMPIRE were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. After the 800 Metres, CHINA LUJIA was left racing wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of ROMA THUNDER, B Doyle stated that after his mount was slow to begin, he was obliged to ride the horse along in an attempt to take up a handy position. He said although ROMA THUNDER was able to initially obtain a position behind VAUGIRARD, the horse was under constant pressure to maintain that position and near the 800 Metres was not travelling sufficiently well to prevent GOOD PARTNER from shifting in in advance of ROMA THUNDER. He said down the side of the track he was continually niggling at ROMA THUNDER to have it travel on the bit, however, at no stage of today’s race did the horse travel satisfactorily. He said although ROMA THUNDER stayed on one-paced in the Straight, indicating to him that it was looking for a longer distance than today’s race, in his opinion, the horse raced disappointedly today. A veterinary inspection of ROMA THUNDER after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of CHINA LUJIA after the race confirmed the horse to have bled from both nostrils. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that BEST POWER had also bled from both nostrils. AASHIQ and VAUGIRARD were sent for sampling.