13/11/2011  Shatin  Race 6

TAKE THE RAP was withdrawn on 11.11.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (colic) and was replaced by 1st Standby Declared Starter LAMBRO (K C Leung). SUPER BRAND was withdrawn on 12.11.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind) and was replaced by 2nd Standby Declared Starter MAKE A FORTUNE (Apprentice T H So). Before being allowed to race again, TAKE THE RAP and SUPER BRAND will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being loaded, OPEN SESAME became fractious, reared and momentarily sat down which resulted in its rider, M Chadwick, being dislodged. OPEN SESAME was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, OPEN SESAME will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. EURO POWER was slow to begin. From wide barriers, MAKE A FORTUNE and LAMBRO were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Approaching and passing the 1000 Metres, QUANTUM POWER got its head up when proving difficult to settle. After this, QUANTUM POWER continued to race keenly. After the 900 Metres, TALLEY CLOSE was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 800 Metres, OPEN SESAME shifted out away from the heels of PERFECT TEN, resulting in BLESSING being taken wider. After this, BLESSING travelled wide and without cover. After the 400 Metres, LUCKY BRAVO was steadied when disappointed for running inside SYDNEY POWER. After this, LUCKY BRAVO had difficulty obtaining clear running until near the 200 Metres. OPEN SESAME was unable to obtain clear running until after the 200 Metres. Mr A T Millard, the trainer of TALLEY CLOSE, explained that it had been intended for the horse to be ridden more quietly at its most recent start, however, after beginning well the horse was obliged to lead the race and as a consequence did not finish off the race as strongly as it had been anticipated. He said today he instructed G Mossé, the rider of TALLEY CLOSE, to ride the horse off the speed. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of CHAMPAGNE DAYS, J Lloyd stated that CHAMPAGNE DAYS had, in the past, travelled keenly in the early stages of its races. He said today, after being instructed to take up a forward position on the horse, CHAMPAGNE DAYS began awkwardly and knuckled over. He said after this CHAMPAGNE DAYS did not travel as well as it normally does in the early stages and had to be ridden along to take up a forward position. He said CHAMPAGNE DAYS was able to shift in to race outside the leader, SYDNEY POWER after the 1000 Metres and after this travelled only fairly. He added he placed CHAMPAGNE DAYS under pressure at the entrance to the Straight, however, it did not respond to his riding and quickly came under pressure. He said the manner in which CHAMPAGNE DAYS raced today indicated to him that its performance may have been impacted upon by the manner in which it began. A veterinary inspection of CHAMPAGNE DAYS after the race did not show any significant findings. QUANTUM POWER, WINNING EDGE and CITY KING were sent for sampling.