21/06/2009  Shatin  Race 5

At declaration time, C K Tong was declared as the rider of both WINNING PAL and SPARKLING. It was established that C K Tong had a firm commitment to ride WINNING PAL. As such, the Stewards permitted K T Yeung to be substituted as the rider of SPARKLING. For this declaration error, C K Tong was fined $2,000. ANIMATION was withdrawn on 19.6.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter GOOD TIME CHARLIE (W M Lai). Before being allowed to race again, ANIMATION will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Prior to leaving the saddling stalls, GOSHAWK had its left front foot replated. GOSHAWK was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Near the 1200 Metres, when racing wide on the track, KING OF HEARTS was steadied in an endeavour to obtain a position with cover and then commenced to over-race. At the 150 Metres, AMBITIOUS OWNER, which got its head on the side, shifted in and brushed SEIZE THE DAY. For the majority of the race, GOOD TIME CHARLIE and BRAVE SPIRIT travelled wide and without cover. W C Marwing (MY WAY) explained the intention had been to have the horse travel in midfield if possible. He said MY WAY began only fairly and shortly afterwards bumped with SURE GOOD. He said as a consequence MY WAY became unbalanced and lost ground. He said near the 1300 Metres he elected to steady MY WAY to shift in across the heels of WINNING PAL to avoid travelling wide. He said after this MY WAY travelled only fairly in the run, however, did close the race off strongly. When questioned, K T Yeung (SPARKLING) said he was advised the horse disappointed at its last start when leading carrying blinkers. He said after that performance the blinkers were removed from SPARKLING and he was today asked to position the horse in midfield if possible. He said in the early stages after beginning well he did not ride his mount along as he believed it would show sufficient natural speed to obtain a midfield position. He said approaching the 1200 Metres SURE GOOD which was travelling outside him was being ridden along to go forward and he elected to allow that horse to go forward and cross, as a consequence SPARKLING travelled further back than intended. He said in the middle stages SPARKLING travelled a little keenly, however, after being ridden more quietly in the early stages closed the race off strongly. Mr C W Chang, the trainer of BE MY SONG, explained the horse when having its two starts since joining his stable travelled keenly when wearing blinkers over distances of less than the 1400 Metres of today. He said as a consequence BE MY SONG had failed to finish its races off. He said due to BE MY SONG stepping up in distance today, he decided to remove the blinkers from the horse and asked S K Sit to ride BE MY SONG more quietly in an endeavour to have the horse close the race off. He said today BE MY SONG in his opinion travelled a little keenly in the early stages when being taken back to a position with cover and again did not finish the race off as he had hoped. SURE GOOD was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of SURE GOOD after the race did not show any significant findings. AMBITIOUS OWNER and BRAVE SPIRIT were sent for sampling.