11/07/2010  Shatin  Race 9

After being loaded, AFFLUENCE OF RAIN became fractious. Before being allowed to race again, AFFLUENCE OF RAIN will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. HAPPY GUYS lost ground at the start when crowded for room between AFFLUENCE OF RAIN and CHINA WIN which shifted in. GREAT HEART was slow to begin. SICHUAN SUCCESS and DRAGON VICTORY bumped heavily shortly after the start. Making the first turn near the 850 Metes, NEW KING PRAWN shifted out after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of CHINA WIN which itself was steadied away from the heels of FLYING SUPREME. Passing the 800 Metres, AFFLUENCE OF RAIN got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of NEW KING PRAWN, resulting in AFFLUENCE OF RAIN becoming badly unbalanced and losing ground. JOYFUL WINNER, which was following AFFLUENCE OF RAIN, was hampered in consequence. On a number of occasions passing the 600 Metres and rounding the Home Turn, FLYING SUPREME and CHINA WIN brushed as FLYING SUPREME shifted to the outside of SICHUAN SUCCESS. Throughout the race, CHINA WIN travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, D Whyte stated that in the early part of the Straight SICHUAN SUCCESS had a tendency to lay in which it had not done in its previous starts in Hong Kong. He said over the concluding stages SICHUAN SUCCESS’ action shortened noticeably, the horse got its head on the side and hung in. He said as he had concern with the horse’s action, he did not ride SICHUAN SUCCESS out fully to the end of the race, however, at this time it was a beaten horse. A veterinary inspection of SICHUAN SUCCESS after the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, SICHUAN SUCCESS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SICHUAN SUCCESS, FLYING SUPREME and CHINA WIN were sent for sampling. <12/7/2010 Additional Veterinary Report> The Clinical Veterinary Surgeon reported that NEW KING PRAWN was lame in its left front leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, NEW KING PRAWN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.