17/12/2011  Shatin  Race 7

ABLE MAGIC was withdrawn on 16.12.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen and inflamed right cheek) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SOHNA (Apprentice C Y Ho). Before being allowed to race again, ABLE MAGIC will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SCENT OF OSMANTHUS was slow to begin. THEHEROINMYHEART began awkwardly, shifted in and made contact with the hindquarters of THANKSGIVING which became unbalanced and resulted in THEHEROINMYHEART losing ground. Shortly after the start, BREEZE OF LUCK was momentarily crowded for room inside RIGHT TIMING which itself was awkwardly placed inside the heels of LONGWAH KID. Also shortly after the start, ISTIDE was taken across behind runners. For some distance approaching and passing the 1000 Metres, KING ON EARTH proved very difficult to settle and was steadied away from the heels of TELECOM TOP STAR. After the 200 Metres, THEHEROINMYHEART shifted out in an endeavour to obtain clear running and in doing so made contact with the hindquarters of SCENT OF OSMANTHUS which became unbalanced. A short distance after this, SCENT OF OSMANTHUS was shifted out away from the heels of REAL GENERAL which shifted out after being bumped by SOHNA which shifted ground after being held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight. LONGWAH KID travelled wide and without cover throughout the race. M Du Plessis stated that he had been instructed not to lead on REAL GENERAL but rather to obtain cover. He said for some distance after the 1200 Metres he attempted to position REAL GENERAL behind PERPETUAL KINGDOM, however, he was unable to do so due to GRAND CHAMPION maintaining its position to his inside. He said for this reason REAL GENERAL was left racing three wide and without cover throughout the race. When questioned, B Prebble (BREEZE OF LUCK) stated that his mount began awkwardly and in the early stages was awkward in its action. He said after being crowded for room shortly after the start BREEZE OF LUCK then travelled only fairly in the early and middle stages. He said due to the manner in which BREEZE OF LUCK was travelling, he placed his mount under pressure prior to the 500 Metres in an endeavour to have the horse improve its position, however, rounding the Home Turn BREEZE OF LUCK got its head on the side and lay out. He said for this reason near the 400 Metres he changed his whip into the left hand and after doing this BREEZE OF LUCK then wanted to shift in. He added that as he had concerns over the manner in which BREEZE OF LUCK was travelling and as the horse was well beaten, he did not ride his mount out over the final 200 Metres. A veterinary inspection of BREEZE OF LUCK after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of BREEZE OF LUCK, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BREEZE OF LUCK will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding his riding of KING ON EARTH in the Straight, B Doyle stated that KING ON EARTH had proven in the past to hang in in its races. He said in the early part of the Straight he rode his mount along to improve its position and approaching the 200 Metres commenced to improve towards the heels of THANKSGIVING. He said as that horse was not racing directly on the fence, he had hoped that THANKSGIVING would shift out sufficiently to allow KING ON EARTH to improve its position to the inside of that horse. He said however that THANKSGIVING did not continue to shift out, therefore he elected to obtain a run to the outside of that horse and inside PERPETUAL KINGDOM. He said as this run did not develop, he was then held up for clear running for the remainder of the race. He added that he did not continue to shift to the outside of PERPETUAL KINGDOM as KING ON EARTH, in his opinion, was not travelling well enough and given its history of hanging in, he felt to have done so may have caused interference to runners to his inside. B Doyle was advised that his riding of KING ON EARTH over the final 200 Metres had come under notice and that he should, wherever circumstances permit, make every endeavour to ensure that his mounts are afforded clear running wherever possible. When questioned, D Whyte stated that while had not been given any firm instructions on how RIGHT TIMING should be ridden today, it was hoped that due to the makeup of the field that he may be able to obtain a position with cover in midfield or slightly in advance of midfield from barrier 13. He said RIGHT TIMING began only fairly and shortly after the start he formed the opinion that it would be difficult for him to obtain a position as instructed with cover without having to make considerable use of the horse. He said in its previous races RIGHT TIMING had performed well when ridden from behind midfield whilst at its most recent start the horse had not performed as expected when ridden along shortly after the start to obtain a forward position. He said for these reasons rather than continue to press forward with RIGHT TIMING, he elected to steady the horse and obtain a position with cover but towards the rear of the field. He said RIGHT TIMING travelled well throughout the race and passing the 500 Metres he had the option of following SCENT OF OSMANTHUS into the Straight or shifting to the outside of BREEZE OF LUCK to obtain clear running. He said he elected to follow BREEZE OF LUCK as he felt that that horse would take him into the Straight with a view of shifting to the outside of that horse shortly after straightening. He added that after electing to shift out to follow BREEZE OF LUCK, that horse did not improve into the race as he thought it would and he was obliged to shift to the outside of that horse earlier than he would have hoped. He said however that given the circumstances of the race RIGHT TIMING was disappointing in its failure to finish off its race in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of RIGHT TIMING after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. A veterinary inspection of SCENT OF OSMANTHUS after the race did not show any significant findings. RIGHT TIMING, SOHNA and GRAND CHAMPION were sent for sampling. <19/12/2011 Additional Veterinary Report> The Clinical Veterinary Surgeon reported that PERPETUAL KINGDOM was lame in the left front leg this morning. Before being allowed to race again, PERPETUAL KINGDOM will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.