14/11/2012  Shatin  Race 5

GOLD BALL was withdrawn on 12.11.12 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by 1st Standby Declared Starter VICTORIUS. ALDAWAY was withdrawn on 13.11.12 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (sore right fore tendon) and was replaced by 2nd Standby Declared Starter PERFECT MOMENT (Apprentice K C Ng). Before being allowed to race again, GOLD BALL and ALDAWAY will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. RAINBOW FIGHTER was steadied when crowded for room at the start between ALL FRIENDS and GREEN ZONE which got its head on the side and shifted out. A short distance after the start, GOLD EDITION and LIFELINE ELITE raced tight. Making the first turn near the 700 Metres, SERENDIPITY shifted in and made heavy contact with the running rail, resulting in SERENDIPITY becoming badly unbalanced and shifting out across the running of RAINBOW FIGHTER which was severely checked when taken out across the heels of ALL FRIENDS. At the 600 Metres, VICTORIUS momentarily raced in restricted room between GREEN ZONE and GOLD EDITION which shifted to the outside of the heels of LIFELINE ELITE. Approaching the 50 Metres, VICTORIUS was steadied when crowded for room between HAPPY FOREVER and GREEN ZONE (C Y Ho) which shifted out under pressure. In reprimanding C Y Ho over this incident, he was advised that this was the second consecutive racemeeting that he had been reprimanded for permitting his mounts to shift out under pressure. Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that the riding of R Fourie (RAINBOW FIGHTER), 5th placegetter, over the concluding stages did not affect the horse’s finishing position, he was nonetheless reprimanded for failing to ride his mount out to the end of the race as required. Throughout the race, GREEN ZONE travelled wide and without cover. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on LIFELINE ELITE at the request of Trainer A T Millard. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, LIFELINE ELITE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. VICTORIUS, HAPPY FOREVER and ALL FRIENDS were sent for sampling.