01/07/2012  Shatin  Race 8

VICTORY MASTER and NEW VISION bumped at the start. Shortly after the start, MASQUERADER got its head up when being steadied to shift in and obtain cover behind PRESIDENT LINCOLN. From a wide barrier, ORACLE was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Approaching the 1000 Metres, TOPSPIN EXPRESS and NEW VISION bumped as NEW VISION was awkwardly placed inside the heels of WAH MAY STAR. A short distance after this, when being steadied to allow WAH MAT STAR to cross, TOPSPIN EXPRESS got its head up and proved difficult to settle. Making the first turn near the 850 Metres, WAH MAY STAR shifted out away from the heels of PRESIDENT LINCOLN. NEW VISION, which was racing to the outside of WAH MAY STAR, shifted out away from that horse in consequence and ran wide. Approaching the 800 Metres, MASQUERADER was checked away from the heels of TOPSPIN EXPRESS. MASQUERADER then raced close to the heels of that horse for some distance after this. WINNING EDGE, which was following MASQUERADER, was hampered in consequence. Passing the 800 Metres, FLEET COMMAND commenced to prove difficult to settle and shifted out away from the heels of JUN GONG. After this, FLEET COMMAND was left racing wide and without cover. Near the 600 Metres, WINNING EDGE shifted out and made contact with MAJESTIC FALCON after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of MASQUERADER. Rounding the Home Turn, PRESIDENT LINCOLN got its head on the side and lay out. JUN GONG was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight. Near the 100 Metres, FLEET COMMAND got its head on the side and shifted in. In the Straight, MAJESTIC FALCON hung in and proved very difficult to ride. When questioned, M Du Plessis stated that he had been instructed, from barrier 3, to be positive on NEW VISION in the early stages as the connections did not want the horse giving away too much start carrying top weight in today’s race. He said it had been hoped that NEW VISION would be able to obtain a position outside the eventual winner, REAL SPECIALIST, however, TOPSPIN EXPRESS maintained its position to the inside of his horse and outside REAL SPECIALIST and for this reason he was not able to shift in. He said near the 1100 Metres he allowed WAH MAY STAR to cross with a view to improving to race outside that horse if it were able to shift to the rail, however, making the first turn near the 850 Metres NEW VISION got its head on the side and shifted out when racing ungenerously. He said for this reason NEW VISION was left racing wide and without cover throughout the race. He added in the Straight NEW VISION continued to race awkwardly and, in his opinion, raced like a tired horse. After the race, D Whyte reported that, in his opinion, WAH MAY STAR raced “flat’ today. A veterinary inspection of WAH MAY STAR after the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that PRESIDENT LINCOLN had lost its right hind plate and that TOPSPIN EXPRESS had sustained superficial wounds to the right hind cannon and left hind fetlock. WAH MAY STAR, REAL SPECIALIST and PRESIDENT LINCOLN were sent for sampling. <3/7/2012 Additional Veterinary Report> The Clinical Veterinary Surgeon reported that MASQUERADER was lame in the right front leg with a wound on the inside cannon on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, MASQUERADER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.