08/07/2012  Shatin  Race 8

LUCKY GAINS was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen left fore limb). TURIN CHAMPION was also withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen left fore limb). Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY GAINS and TURIN CHAMPION will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GABRIEL THE KING was checked on jumping when crowded for room between FIRST IN COMMAND and LOADS OF JOY which was taken out by LUCKY SCEPTER. CITY POWER and BEAUTY SPARKLE bumped at the start, resulting in CITY POWER being taken in onto KA WAI FORTUNE which became unbalanced. Despite being ridden along, LOADS OF JOY failed to muster speed in the early stages. Approaching the 800 Metres, GABRIEL THE KING shifted in and bumped CITY POWER. Making the first turn near the 700 Metres, KA WAI FORTUNE became unbalanced and shifted out and in doing so bumped LOADS OF JOY. CITY POWER, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence. Throughout the race, LUCKY SCEPTER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of BEAUTY SPARKLE, B Prebble stated that after being loaded his mount became agitated which is in contrast to the manner in which it behaved in its trials in the lead up to today’s race. He said he had intended to take up a forward position on BEAUTY SPARKLE, however, other runners clearly showed more speed than BEAUTY SPARKLE in the early stages and for this reason he shifted his mount across to be racing behind the speed. He said BEAUTY SPARKLE did not travel well in the early stages and because of this he used the whip on the horse in the backhanded manner in an attempt to have it travel better. He said however that at no stage of today’s race did BEAUTY SPARKLE travel well. He added in its trials on the surface in the lead up to today’s race, BEAUTY SPARKLE had travelled strongly throughout and had finished off these trials well. He said however that under race conditions today BEAUTY SPARKLE did not travel at any stage and, despite being placed under pressure rounding the Home Turn, gave ground quickly in the early part of the Straight and weakened badly thereafter. He said he was not able to offer any explanation for the horse’s disappointing performance as it appeared to pull up well immediately after the race. Trainer C Fownes stated that after BEAUTY SPARKLE’s impressive final trial, the horse had worked very well and a forward showing was expected today. He said he was at a loss to explain the performance of the horse, particularly given the manner in which it had trialed and worked on the surface since arriving in Hong Kong. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY SPARKLE after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of BEAUTY SPARKLE was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BEAUTY SPARKLE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that LOADS OF JOY had lost its right front plate. BEAUTY SPARKLE, FIRST IN COMMAND and PALEPALE were sent for sampling.