16/02/2010  Shatin  Race 1

OPTIC KING, Standby Declared Starter, was withdrawn on 15.2.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (fever). Before being allowed to race again, OPTIC KING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SMART CODE and CRUSH ON YOU were slow to begin. GO STITCH began awkwardly and lost ground. In the early and middle stages, GLITTERING proved difficult to settle and hung out. Passing the 700 Metres, CRUSH ON YOU and GENERAL POWER were crowded for room inside SMART CODE after GENERAL POWER improved to be racing inside that horse where there was restricted room. Rounding the Home Turn, LUCKY TYCOON and GO STITCH bumped as GO STITCH improved to the outside of LUCKY TYCOON and METRO RIDER, which was racing to the inside of that horse, shifted out slightly. In the early part of the Straight and then again over the concluding stages, CHEERFUL HAPPINESS hung in and proved difficult to ride. For some distance approaching the 200 Metres, ACTUARIAL TALENT and HIGH NOTE bumped due to both horses shifting ground. In the run to the winning post, HIGH NOTE and ACTUARIAL TALENT again made contact on a number of occasions, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. At the 200 Metres, the whip of M Chadwick (HIGH NOTE) was knocked from his hand by the whip of G Cheyne (METRO RIDER). A veterinary inspection of CHEERFUL HAPPINESS after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of HIGH NOTE after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. HIGH NOTE, GO STITCH and SCOOT DA LOOT were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that GLITTERING had blood present in its left nostril. He said however that an endoscopic examination showed the horse’s trachea to be clean and therefore was not deemed to have bled.