03/04/2011  Shatin  Race 7

PRINCE OF SUNSHINE stood flat-footed at the start and lost a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, PRINCE OF SUNSHINE will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. FIERCE FORCE began awkwardly. RACING SPORT and WHITE HART KING were slow to begin. At the entrance to the Home Straight, BREEZE OF LUCK was steadied when disappointed for running between SUPER VAN and CHAMPION MOUNT. In the Straight and particularly over the final 200 Metres, FIONN’S DRAGON hung in and proved difficult to ride. Throughout the race, SUPER VAN travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. After the race, the Veterinary Surgeon reported that SUPER VAN was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being permitted to race again, SUPER VAN will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, D Beadman stated that he had been instructed to take up a forward position on SUPREME KNIGHT but to ensure that the horse did not over-race. He said SUPREME KNIGHT began well, he commenced to shift across, however, he immediately noticed a line of horses to his inside which were maintaining their positions. He said he felt that had he have ridden SUPREME KNIGHT along to clear those horses, SUPREME KNIGHT would over-race which would be contrary to the manner in which he was instructed to ride the horse. He said therefore he attempted to obtain a position with cover in the early stages. He added as he was steadying SUPREME KNIGHT to shift in across behind BREEZE OF LUCK, COSTA DEL SOL was ridden along to obtain the position inside SUPREME KNIGHT before he was able to shift across. He said for this reason SUPREME KNIGHT was obliged to race outside of COSTA DEL SOL but with cover behind BREEZE OF LUCK. He added that making the first turn he was taken back further than had been anticipated when BREEZE OF LUCK was steadied to obtain a position behind SUPER VAN. He said as SUPER VAN and BREEZE OF LUCK were not taking him into the race, he elected to shift to the outside of those horses passing the 600 Metres in an attempt to improve his position. When questioned, Y T Cheng stated that as YEE WONGCHOY had been tardy to begin in its trials in Hong Kong, from the outside barrier, he was instructed to take the horse across behind runners and obtain a position closer to the fence. He said YEE WONGCHOY began better than expected, however, as he was under instructions to ride the horse quietly, rather than take advantage of the fact that YEE WONGCHOY began well, he took the horse across behind runners in the early stages in accordance with his instructions. A veterinary inspection of LIFE OF BEAUTY after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. COSTA DEL SOL and FIONN’S DRAGON were sent for sampling.