02/06/2013  Shatin  Race 9

FINN MACCOOL, first Standby Declared Starter, was withdrawn on 30.5.13 by order of the Stewards (retired). MAC ROW was withdrawn on 31.5.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (fever) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter LOMBARDI (C Y Ho). Before being allowed to race again, MAC ROW will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. AEROVELOCITY was withdrawn on 1.6.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore). Before being allowed to race again, AEROVELOCITY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FOREVER ELATION was withdrawn from this race by order of the Stewards prior to Race 8 after the Veterinary Surgeon reported the horse to be lame in the right hind leg. Before being allowed to race again, FOREVER ELATION will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On entering the track, LOMBARDI momentarily became fractious, resulting in its rider, C Y Ho, being dislodged. FABULOUS NOVEMBER, which was fractious in the barriers and was leaning on the inside of its stall, began awkwardly and shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of HYPERSONIC which was taken out by LOMBARDI. From a wide barrier, OWNERS’ PRIDE was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. For some distance passing the 1000 Metres, RACING REWARD travelled keenly and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of PRINCIPAL. In the early part of the Straight, HELENE FUN STAR was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GENUINE LEADER. After the 300 Metres, after initially being brushed by HYPERSONIC (B Prebble) which got its head on the side and hung in, FABULOUS NOVEMBER shifted in of its own accord away from HYPERSONIC towards the heels of HELENE FUN STAR. Then approaching the 200 Metres, FABULOUS NOVEMBER was steadied away from the heels of HYPERSONIC which continued to shift in under pressure. B Prebble was advised to ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mount from shifting ground in similar circumstances. For the majority of the race, GENUINE LEADER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C K Tong stated that he had been instructed to be positive on CARRY THE ZEAL from the wide barrier to obtain a position with cover behind the leaders if possible. He said in accordance with his instructions, he allowed CARRY THE ZEAL to obtain a forward position in the early stages and after the 1200 Metres steadied the horse with a view to possibly obtaining a position behind LOMBARDI with cover in advance of HELENE FUN STAR. He said however that CARRY THE ZEAL commenced to over-race and he was not able to shift the horse in behind LOMBARDI. He said CARRY THE ZEAL continued to over-race, therefore he allowed the horse to obtain the lead, however, once reaching the front the horse then proved very difficult to settle and despite repeated attempts to have it come back underneath him, CARRY THE ZEAL continued to prove very difficult to settle and consequently ran at a quicker tempo in the lead. He added it had not been intended to be ridden in this manner, but the horse, when wearing blinkers, would not respond to his efforts to steady the tempo. Trainer D J Hall stated that in applying the blinkers to CARRY THE ZEAL at its most recent start, it had been hoped that the horse, which had been racing disappointingly this season, would be able to obtain a more forward position in that race. He said however that CARRY THE ZEAL did not show any speed in that race and for this reason he stepped the horse up in distance to 1400 Metres today in the hope that it would be able to race more prominently. He said he had hoped that CARRY THE ZEAL would be able to obtain a position with cover behind the leaders, however, he advised C K Tong that a position outside the lead would be acceptable if he was not able to obtain cover. He added CARRY THE ZEAL, which in its early racing career was inclined to prove difficult to settle, today raced in a similar manner and because of this he would drop it back in distance and return to the All Weather surface where he believes that the horse, at this time of the season, is more effective. FABULOUS NOVEMBER, PRINCIPAL and HELENE FUN STAR were sent for sampling. <3/6/2013 Additional Veterinary Report>The Clinical Veterinary Surgeon reported that OWNERS’ PRIDE had a swelling to the outside of its left front suspensory on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, OWNERS’ PRIDE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.