31/05/2009  Shatin  Race 1

JUST CHILL was withdrawn on 28.5.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BRIGHT TOUCH. Before being allowed to race again, JUST CHILL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. REDOUTE STAR was slow to begin. FUN RIDER began awkwardly and lost ground. On jumping, LUCKY SELECTION and MARK UP bumped. Shortly after the start, LEGEND EXPRESS was bumped by HEALTHY BLUEBERRY which was carried in by BRIGHT TOUCH. After the 1000 Metres, BRIGHT TOUCH got its head up when being steadied. Making the turn at the 800 Metres, DEVON JOY was steadied away from the heels of TRAVEL KING which got its head on the side and hung in. Shortly after this, DEVON JOY and LEGEND EXPRESS were crowded for room inside HEALTHY BLUEBERRY which got its head on the side and shifted in away from FLYING SUPREME. Also making the turn at the 800 Metres, FLYING SUPREME was left racing wide and without cover, then near the 700 Metres was hampered and carried wider by HEALTHY BLUEBERRY which was also hampered and carried wider by TRAVEL KING which shifted out after initially shifting in, causing LEGEND EXPRESS and DEVON JOY to be crowded for room and DEVON JOY to be hampered. After the 800 Metres, SHIBALA, which was hanging out, was steadied away from the heels of DASHING VICTORY. At the same time, NEW LEADER became unbalanced. Also after the 800 Metres, BRIGHT TOUCH, which was travelling ungenerously with its head up, was checked away from the heels of PERPETIEL which was steadied away from the heels of LUCKY SELECTION (Apprentice K C Leung) which shifted in when not properly clear. Apprentice Leung was reprimanded and told to exercise greater care. Making the Home Turn, FLYING SUPREME was carried wider by HEALTHY BLUEBERRY. After the 400 Metres, NEW LEADER, which had been shifted out to obtain clear running, was steadied when disappointed for running between BRIGHT TOUCH and MARK UP which got its head on the side and shifted in momentarily. After this for some distance, NEW LEADER had difficulty obtaining clear running, then when closing the race off fairly near the 100 Metres was checked to avoid the heels of TRAVEL KING which when giving ground shifted in. When NEW LEADER was checked, it shifted in, causing crowding on its inside to REDOUTE STAR which was closing the race off. Approaching and passing the 300 Metres, REDOUTE STAR, which was experiencing difficulty obtaining clear running, was steadied and shifted to the outside of BRIGHT TOUCH. For a considerable distance approaching the 200 Metres, FUN RIDER had difficulty obtaining clear running. Over the concluding stages, NEW LEADER did not obtain clear running and therefore was not properly tested. Close to the line, REDOUTE STAR was steadied away from the heels of DASHING VICTORY. DASHING VICTORY and LUCKY SELECTION were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of DASHING VICTORY and LUCKY SELECTION after the race did not show any significant findings. LEGEND EXPRESS and FLYING SUPREME were sent for sampling.