01/07/2009  Shatin  Race 2

STAY YOUNG was withdrawn on 30.6.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (sore right fore suspensory) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter A WALK IN THE PARK (D Whyte). JUNGLE TREASURE began awkwardly, got its head up and lost ground. AMBITIOUS TREASURE began awkwardly and lost ground. A WALK IN THE PARK and WINNING STRATEGY were slow into stride. Approaching the 1000 Metres, A WALK IN THE PARK, which had begun to race ungenerously, got its head up and hung in. Passing the 1000 Metres, AMBITIOUS TREASURE was checked away from the heels of WINNING STRATEGY, then commencing to make the turn at the 800 Metres got its head up, shifted out and blundered when awkwardly placed close to the heels of A WALK IN THE PARK. In the middle stages, A WALK IN THE PARK raced greenly. For some distance after the 600 Metres, TREASURE RAIDERS was steadied away from the heels of JUNGLE TREASURE, then near the 200 Metres when experiencing difficulty obtaining clear running was checked and shifted to the inside of SOU MA TAM which was giving ground. At the 400 Metres, ENCOSTA DON, which was endeavouring to find clear running, was steadied away from the heels of AMBITIOUS TREASURE. Approaching the 200 Metres, ENCOSTA DON was hampered when bumped by JUNGLE TREASURE which shifted in. At the 150 Metres, JUNGLE TREASURE, which was giving ground, was steadied when awkwardly placed between WIN-A-LOT and ENCOSTA DON (D Beadman) which shifted out momentarily. D Beadman was told to exercise greater care. Throughout the race, WIN-A-LOT travelled wide and without cover. B Doyle (WIN-A-LOT), 6th placegetter, was reminded of his responsibility to ride his mounts out fully to the end of the race where circumstances permit. B Prebble (SOU MA TAM), which performed poorly, reported his mount felt today’s firmer track conditions and because of this did not stride out as it normally does. When questioned regarding the improved performance of BE MY SONG, Trainer C W Chang said as he had explained previously he was concerned the horse since joining his stable had been making use of itself in the early stages of its races and as a consequence failed to finish the races off. He said because of this last start he elected to step BE MY SONG up in distance to 1400 Metres and have the horse ridden more patiently from a wide gate in an endeavour to have it close the race off. He said on that occasion BE MY SONG again failed to finish off after travelling keenly in the early stages due to the tempo of the race. He said because of this he decided to drop BE MY SONG back in distance for today’s race to 1200 Metres in an endeavour to find a more genuine tempo which would allow BE MY SONG to relax. He said today he had instructed P H Lo to allow the horse to begin, not ride it along in the early stages, but rather allow it to travel where it was relaxed in an endeavour to have the horse breathe properly. He said after beginning well BE MY SONG was able to obtain a position outside the lead without being made use of. He said he believed the improved performance of BE MY SONG was because it was able to travel kindly in the race and consequently was able to finish the race off. SOU MA TAM was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of SOU MA TAM after the race did not show any significant findings. BE MY SONG and A WALK IN THE PARK were sent for sampling.