02/04/2018  Shatin  Race 2

TRAVEL DATUK was withdrawn on 1.4.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter UNIVERSAL GO GO (K C Leung). Before being allowed to race again, TRAVEL DATUK will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On arrival at the Start, C Schofield expressed concern in respect of the action of SUPER CLAN. An examination of SUPER CLAN conducted by the Veterinary Officer found that horse to be lame in its right front leg and accordingly was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, SUPER CLAN was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, SUPER CLAN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HAPPY SURVEYS began only fairly. MY WINNER was crowded for room on jumping between FIRE AND GOLD and ADONIS (M Chadwick) which shifted in. M Chadwick was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. UNIVERSAL GO GO began awkwardly and then shortly after the start was crowded for room inside GRACIOUS RYDER which shifted in abruptly despite the efforts of its rider. GRACIOUS RYDER then continued to shift in, resulting in UNIVERSAL GO GO being taken in onto LA BOMBA which became unbalanced and then shifted in and bumped SURE SUPREME, causing those horses to all be hampered. EMPIRE OF PATCH was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Passing the 400 Metres, ALL YOU KNOW was awkwardly placed between MY WINNER and HAPPY FORCE which shifted out. Near the 350 Metres, UNIVERSAL GO GO was shifted out away from the heels of FIRE AND GOLD which was taken out by MY WINNER. Also near the 350 Metres, EMPIRE OF PATCH momentarily had difficulty obtaining clear running. Passing the 200 Metres, ALL YOU KNOW was momentarily crowded for room between EMPIRE OF PATCH and REGENCY DARLING which got its head on the side and shifted out away from HAPPY FORCE. Near the 150 Metre, EMPIRE OF PATCH was shifted in from behind MY WINNER to continue improving. Then passing the 100 Metres, EMPIRE OF PATCH was awkwardly placed behind MY WINNER which shifted in under pressure. Over the final 50 Metres, HAPPY SURVEYS was unable to obtain clear running behind HAPPY FORCE and GRACIOUS RYDER which was giving ground. After the race, Apprentice H N Wong reported that he was instructed to take up a forward position on REGENCY DARLING and lead the race if possible. He said, despite being ridden along for a considerable distance in the early stages, REGENCY DARLING did not show as much early speed as had been anticipated and because of this was not able to clear runners to its inside and consequently raced wide and without cover throughout. When questioned, Apprentice M F Poon stated that he was asked to ride GRACIOUS RYDER, which had blinkers reapplied today, in a forward position as it was felt that the horse may not settle were it to be ridden quietly from a wide barrier. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode his mount hard in the early stages to clear runners to his inside and had intended on positioning GRACIOUS RYDER to the outside of LA BOMBA after the 1000 Metres which was also being ridden along. He said when it became apparent that LA BOMBA was being ridden to obtain cover after obtaining a forward position, he then allowed GRACIOUS RYDER to continue on into the lead as the horse was travelling keenly at this time. He said after reaching the lead near the 800 Metres, he immediately tried to steady GRACIOUS RYDER, however, the horse continued to over-race and he believed that he would have had to strongly restrain the horse in an endeavour to have it set a more moderate tempo in the lead. He said, in his opinion, the combination of the blinkers being reapplied and the amount of use he had to make of GRACIOUS RYDER in the early stages were the reasons for the horse not being able to settle in the middle stages, setting a fast tempo and consequently not being able to finish off its race. When questioned, A Sanna stated that when proceeding to the barriers LA BOMBA shifted out abruptly, resulting in him being dislodged without incident. He said after being dislodged, LA BOMBA remained in his vicinity and he was able to recapture the horse and then when proceeding to the barriers with an outrider was able to do so without becoming worked up. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode LA BOMBA along in the early stages to obtain a forward position from the horse’s wide barrier and he was able to take up a trailing position behind the leader GRACIOUS RYDER making the first turn after the 900 Metres. He said in the middle stages LA BOMBA was inclined to lay away from the rail and he had to ride his mount along to ensure that it was able to remain racing as close to the rail as possible. He added in the early part of the Straight he placed LA BOMBA under pressure, however, the horse was particularly disappointing in the manner in which it weakened over the final 300 Metres. A veterinary inspection of LA BOMBA immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. LA BOMBA, MY WINNER and ADONIS were sent for sampling.