13/04/2011  Shatin  Race 8

FLASHING AURA was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inappetance and fever). Before being allowed to race again, FLASHING AURA will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WINDICATOR RETURNS knuckled over at the start. At the start, BRILLIANT CHAPTER and ELITE OF CHIU TON were badly crowded for room between FOREVER ELATION which shifted in and RICH UNICORN which got its head on the side and shifted out abruptly. HAPPY REUNION began awkwardly. Near the 1000 Metres, ROYAL PERICLES was steadied away from the heels of WINDICATOR RETURNS (Apprentice C Y Ho) which shifted in when barely clear. Apprentice Ho was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is two lengths clear when shifting ground in future. Approaching the 800 Metres, HAPPY PRESTIGE and ROYAL PERICLES bumped. Making the first turn, FOREVER ELATION was taken wider by RICH UNICORN. Throughout the race and particularly in the Home Straight, HAPPY REUNION hung in and proved very difficult to ride. Near the 100 Metres, GOOD STRIKE and SUPER BOY bumped. Mr Y S Tsui, trainer of BRILLIANT CHAPTER, advised that it had been decided for the horse to be ridden quietly tonight as it was when it was successful prior to being trained by him. He said BRILLIANT CHAPTER’s most recent runs had been somewhat disappointing. When questioned, D Whyte stated that he had been instructed to ride RICH UNICORN in about a midfield position as Mr J Size, the trainer of the horse, felt that it had not finished off its most recent race after being ridden along in the early stages and then proving difficult to settle in the middle stages. He said because of his instructions, he did not ride RICH UNICORN along in the early stages and was able to obtain a position behind SUNNY FAY just worse than midfield. He said making the first turn near the 700 Metres RICH UNICORN got its head on the side and hung out badly. He said as he was aware that the rider of ELITE OF CHIU TON was attempting to improve his position to the inside of RICH UNICORN when the horse hung out and as he was attempting to shift RICH UNICORN back into a position one horse off the fence behind SUNNY FAY, he looked to his inside on a number of occasions to establish whether he would be able to shift in safely. He added however that RICH UNICORN continued to hang and would not respond to being directed back in which obliged it to race wide in the middle stages. He added at the entrance to the Straight RICH UNICORN commenced to race more genuinely and finished off the race satisfactorily given the manner in which it hung in the middle stages. A veterinary inspection of RICH UNICORN after the race did not show any significant findings. In the circumstances, the Stewards ruled that RICH UNICORN would be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial around a bend prior to its next race start. A veterinary inspection of SUPER BOY after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SUPER BOY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of ROYAL PERICLES after the race did not show any significant findings. RICH UNICORN, HAPPY REUNION and WINDICATOR RETURNS were sent for sampling.