10/04/2010  Shatin  Race 5

ELECTRONIC DRAGON was withdrawn on 9.4.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen right fore tendon) and was replaced by first Standby Declared Starter LUCKY PHOTO FRAME. CHEEKY LAD was also withdrawn on 9.4.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inappetant) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter SAMMY’S FALCON (D Whyte). Before being allowed to race again, ELECTRONIC DRAGON and CHEEKY LAD will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Just prior to the start being effected, HUA SHI became fractious and as the gates opened lost a considerable amount of ground. Also as the gates opened, TOM’S EIGHTH reared and lost a considerable amount of ground. The Stewards ruled that both HUA SHI and TOM’S EIGHTH will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test before being allowed to race again. TRAVEL KING began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped LUCKY PHOTO FRAME. From the outside barrier, COMPACT YARN was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Near the 1200 Metres, MY WAY, which had been hard ridden to obtain a forward position, was steadied when crowded for room inside SAMMY’S FALCON which itself was taken in at this time by LUCKY NISTELROOY (G Cheyne) which shifted in before being corrected by its rider. G Cheyne was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in future. TRAVEL KING, which was following, was hampered in consequence. After this, MY WAY was again ridden along to obtain a forward position and for some distance after the 1100 Metres was awkwardly placed between TOM’S EIGHTH and SAMMY’S FALCON. In this incident, MY WAY became unbalanced, shifted in and bumped TOM’S EIGHTH which became badly unbalanced behind. MY WAY then shifted out across the heels of SAMMY’S FALCON, resulting in SUPER GENERAL being steadied when crowded for room inside ELITE FORTUNE. In this incident, TRAVEL KING, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence. Passing the 650 Metres, MY WAY clipped the heels of ELITE FORTUNE and blundered badly after being brushed by TOM’S EIGHTH, resulting in its rider, Apprentice M L Yeung becoming badly unbalanced in the saddle. SUPER GENERAL and COMPACT YARN were hampered in consequence. From near the 800 Metres, FUN HEROES raced wide and without cover. COMPACT YARN had difficulty obtaining clear running rounding the Home Turn. At the 400 Metres, RACING LEGEND was steadied away from the heels of LUCKY NISTELROOY. In the Straight, LUCKY NISTELROOY got its head on the side and lay in. Almost right on the finishing line, TRAVEL KING and SUPER GENERAL brushed. Throughout the race, HEALTHY MANNER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of TOM’S EIGHTH, B Doyle said he was obliged to ride the horse along in the early stages due to its poor beginning. He said he was able to obtain a favourable position on TOM’S EIGHTH after this, however, the horse was inclined to shift away from the fence throughout the race. He said, in his opinion, TOM’S EIGHTH did not appear to appreciate today’s track conditions and was most disappointing in the manner in which it finished off the race, particularly over the final 200 Metres. He said, for this reason, he recommended to the connections to consider dropping TOM’S EIGHTH back in distance. A veterinary inspection of TOM’S EIGHTH after the race did not show any significant findings. TRAVEL KING, LUCKY PHOTO FRAME and ELITE FORTUNE were sent for sampling.