08/05/2010  Shatin  Race 4

FAIRWOOD CROWN was withdrawn on 7.5.10 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter COOL RUNNINGS (Apprentice K W Leung). CHINESE COURSER was withdrawn prior to Race 3 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore). Before being allowed to race again, FAIRWOOD CROWN and CHINESE COURSER will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. D Beadman (THE KID), Apprentice M L Yeung (MYTHIC STEED), Apprentice K C Leung (PERPETUAL DELIGHT), C K Tong (JOYFUL YEARS) and J Lloyd (COVER BOY) were each fined a sum of $2,000 for failing to present themselves in the Parade Ring by the required time. COVER BOY began awkwardly and shortly after the start was steadied when crowded for room between DAYLIGHT EXPRESS and COOL RUNNINGS which at this time was taken in slightly by ACCELERATOR which got its head on the side and shifted in. In the early stages, JOYFUL YEARS got its head on the side and hung in. Approaching and passing the 1100 Metres, ACCELERATOR got its head up and proved difficult to settle when being steadied away from the heels of THE KID. GOOD JOB, which was following ACCELERATOR, got its head up and was checked away from the heels of that horse for some distance passing the 1000 Metres. Near the 1000 Metres, COOL RUNNINGS was steadied away from the heels of PERPETUAL DELIGHT. Passing the 1000 Metres, COVER BOY got its head up when being checked away from the heels of DAYLIGHT EXPRESS and shifted out, resulting in ACCELERATOR, which was continuing to over-race, being checked. For some distance after this, COVER BOY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of THE KID. At the 100 Metres, THE KID, which was laying in, got its head on the side, shifted in and bumped METRO RIDER which became unbalanced. After this, THE KID continued to lay in. Near the 50 Metres, Apprentice K W Leung (COOL RUNNINGS) dropped his right rein. When questioned, G Cheyne stated that he had been instructed to ride GOOD JOB quietly from the wide draw, to ensure that the horse had cover and did not over-race. He said he was advised by Trainer D E Ferraris that previously when racing in a forward position, GOOD JOB had failed to finish off its race. He said accordingly he shifted GOOD JOB across behind runners in the early stages of the race and after initially travelling kindly, GOOD JOB commenced to over-race badly when the pace slacked at the 1000 Metres. He said after this GOOD JOB continued to prove difficult to settle and got its head up continually until about passing the 700 Metres. He said in the early part of the Straight GOOD JOB was reluctant to improve into tight running between PERPETUAL DELIGHT and COOL RUNNINGS. METRO RIDER and NAMJONG FIGHTERS were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that METRO RIDER had lost its left front plate. Also after the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that an endoscopic examination was conducted on MYTHIC STEED at the request of the trainer. He said this examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea and had an inflamed epiglottis.