01/01/2012  Shatin  Race 5

GIANTS SERAPIS was withdrawn on 31.12.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left front foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter MERACUS (Apprentice C Y Ho). Before being allowed to race again, GIANTS SERAPIS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LUCKY NISTELROOY began awkwardly. Shortly after the start, DREAMS MAKER became unbalanced when bumped by RIGHT TIMING which shifted in. DIVINITY POWER was awkwardly placed close to the heels of MASTER RACER rounding the Home Turn and shortly after entering the Straight was shifted in to obtain clear running. Passing the 400 Metres, THEHEROINMYHEART was steadied away from the heels of ISLAND SPRING which was taken out by RIGHT TIMING which was shifting to the outside of SOLAR GREAT which itself was taken out by MASTER RACER. After the 300 Metres, DIVINITY POWER had difficulty obtaining clear running and near the 200 Metres was shifted to the outside of SAMMY'S FALCON to continue improving. Passing the 200 Metres, MASTER RACER was steadied when crowded for room between SOLAR GREAT and MERACUS, both of which shifted ground. Throughout the race, ISLAND SPRING travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of SOLAR GREAT, Z Purton stated that after the 900 Metres SOLAR GREAT was reluctant to maintain its position inside ISLAND SPRING and he had to ride SOLAR GREAT along to maintain its position between that horse and SAMMY'S FALCON. He said after the 600 Metres SOLAR GREAT came off the bridle and for this reason he gave the horse a slap down the shoulder to have it pick up the bit. He said when he did this SOLAR GREAT improved quickly onto the heels of MASTER RACER and near the 500 Metres became awkward when being checked away from the heels of that horse and in doing so shifted out, resulting in SOLAR GREAT making heavy contact with ISLAND SPRING, causing both horses to become unbalanced. He added that he placed SOLAR GREAT under pressure in the early part of the Straight and whilst the horse responded briefly, it commenced to weaken on its run near the 300 Metres and was disappointing over the concluding stages. He did say after the race that SOLAR GREAT was breathing quite heavily which indicated to him that the horse, which had not started since 20 November 2011, might benefit from the run. A veterinary inspection of SOLAR GREAT after the race revealed that horse to have sustained a superficial wound above the left hock and to have lost its left hind plate. A veterinary inspection of THEHEROINMYHEART and ISLAND SPRING after the race did not show any significant findings. SOLAR GREAT, SUPER CAGA and SAMMY'S FALCON were sent for sampling.