04/03/2012  Shatin  Race 5

SAMADHI was slow to begin and from the outside barrier was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. MAELSTROM, from a wide barrier, was also taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Making the first turn near the 850 Metres, KEEN WONGCHOY got its head up and proved very difficult to settle when awkwardly placed inside the heels of RUGBY EXPRESS. Also making the first turn near the 850 Metres, SUPER GOODIES got its head on the side when racing close to the heels of RUGBY EXPRESS. In the middle stages, SAMADHI raced greenly, got its head on the side and lay out. When questioned, B Prebble stated that it was felt that today’s race would be run at a good tempo and for this reason having in mind SUPER GOODIES’ racing manners at its most recent start, it was decided to ride the horse in midfield if possible. He said shortly after the start SUPER GOODIES was steadied away from the heels of COSMIC BOOM. He said as DREAM BUILDER was maintaining its position to his inside, rather than ride the horse along, he elected to shift SUPER GOODIES across behind DREAM BUILDER in the early stages. He said this resulted in SUPER GOODIES racing slightly further back in the race than had been intended. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on ELITE OF CHIU TON at the request of Trainer A S Cruz. The Veterinary Surgeon reported that this examination showed the horse to have a continuous epiglottic entrapment. KEEN MARIE and COSMIC BOOM were sent for sampling.