13/11/2011  Shatin  Race 8

IMPERIAL ROME was withdrawn on 11.11.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (substantial amount of mucus in trachea on scoping after track work ) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter ELITE OF CHIU TON (Apprentice T H So). Before being allowed to race again, IMPERIAL ROME will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. KYARA was slow to begin. SWEET ORANGE was crowded for room at the start between PROLIFIC CHAMPION and GIFT IS GIFT. From the outside barrier, ELITE OF CHIU TON was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Despite being vigorously ridden along in the early stages, LEGEND EXPRESS failed to muster speed. Near the 1300 Metres, MAJESTIC FALCON was steadied away from the heels of NEW VISION which shifted in when awkwardly placed close to the heels of PROLIFIC CHAMPION. Approaching the 1200 Metres, NOBLE ALPHA was shifted away from the heels of CAPTAIN SWEET. Approaching the 1100 Metres, KYARA got its head up on a number of occasions when proving difficult to settle. After the 800 Metres, MAJESTIC FALCON was checked when crowded for room inside KYARA which, when continuing to prove difficult to settle, got its head up and shifted in away from NEW VISION which throughout the race travelled wide and without cover. LEGEND EXPRESS, which was following, was checked and NOBLE ALPHA was hampered in consequence. In this incident, KYARA struck the heels of CARTOON FAY FAY which became unbalanced. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that CARTOON FAY FAY had sustained a minor superficial wound to the inside of the right hind heel. Passing the 700 Metres, KYARA shifted out abruptly when checked away from the heels of FLYING COLOURS and in doing so made contact with NEW VISION, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. KYARA then shifted in, resulting in NOBLE ALPHA being checked away form the heels of KYARA and shifting in, causing LEGEND EXPRESS to be checked. Rounding the Home Turn, NEW VISION and FLYING COLOURS bumped as FLYING COLOURS shifted to the outside of GIFT IS GIFT which in turn shifted to the outside of SWEET ORANGE to obtain clear running. Passing the 300 Metres, PROLIFIC CHAMPION was steadied when disappointed for running inside BOULD MOVER which was taken in by SWEET ORANGE. Approaching and passing the 200 Metres, KYARA was steadied when unable to establish clear running between SWEET ORANGE and GIFT IS GIFT (Apprentice M L Yeung) which shifted in. Because of this, KYARA was held up for clear running until the concluding stages and as a consequence was not able to be properly tested. As the Stewards could not be satisfied that KYARA had established proper running between GIFT IS GIFT and SWEET ORANGE, no further action was taken other than Apprentice Yeung was severely reprimanded for taking KYARA off its line near the 200 Metres. Passing the 50 Metres, MAJESTIC FALCON was steadied away from the heels of NEW VISION which shifted in slightly. NEW VISION, CAPTAIN SWEET and NOBLE ALPHA were sent for sampling.