27/12/2009  Shatin  Race 3

After being loaded, SPEEDY GROWTH attempted to sit down in the barriers. SPEEDY GROWTH was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said, in his opinion, it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, SPEEDY GROWTH will have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. INFALLIBLE CHOICE was slow to begin. GUAN DAO shifted out at the start, resulting in CENTURY KNIGHT being taken out onto THE KID, resulting in both those horses being hampered. After this, THE KID was taken across behind runners. GOOD JOB raced greenly in the early stages. Making the turn near the 800 Metres, TREMENDOUS ADD got its head on the side and commenced to hang out. TREMENDOUS ADD continued to hang out badly until after straightening. A veterinary inspection of TREMENDOUS ADD at the request of Trainer C W Chang after the race did not reveal any abnormalities. The performance of TREMENDOUS ADD, a favourite for today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, TREMENDOUS ADD will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial around a bend. At the entrance to the Straight, SOHNA, which was attempting to improve to the outside of SUPER GOAL CHAMP, was steadied when that horse shifted out slightly. Then passing the 350 Metres, SOHNA was checked when badly held up for clear running between SUPER GOAL CHAMP and GENERAL DANROAD which commenced to weaken. G Mossé (SUPER GOAL CHAMP) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 150 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when insufficiently clear of CENTURY KNIGHT, resulting in that horse being checked and losing its rightful running when crowded for room between GOOD JOB and SUPER GOAL CHAMP. G Mossé was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Monday 11 January 2010 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Friday 1 January 2010. Near the 100 Metres, SUPER GOAL CHAMP was steadied when crowded for room between SOHNA which shifted out and GOOD JOB which shifted in when awkwardly placed inside the heels of TREMENDOUS ADD which also shifted ground. After this, GOOD JOB continued to be awkwardly placed close to the heels of TREMENDOUS ADD. Throughout the race, GENERAL DANROAD travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. When questioned regarding the improved performance of PLENTIFUL, Trainer P F Yiu stated that at its first up run this season at Happy Valley on 14 October 2009, the horse had become badly unbalanced at the 900 Metres. He said, in his opinion, PLENTIFUL did not appreciate racing around the tighter circuit at Happy Valley, therefore he returned the horse to race at Sha Tin today. He said he had barrier trialed PLENTIFUL on two occasions since that run and, in his opinion, both of these barrier trials had been impressive. He said, in his opinion, PLENTIFUL had been further advantaged by being able to obtain an inside barrier and that there had been some give in today’s track surface. A veterinary inspection of GENERAL DANROAD and THE KID after the race did not show any significant findings. TREMENDOUS ADD, PLENTIFUL and MY MELODY were sent for sampling. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on SUPER GOAL CHAMP at the request of Trainer C Fownes. The Veterinary Officer reported that this examination showed the horse had bled from both nostrils.