15/12/2013  Shatin  Race 1

CONFUCIUS ELITE was withdrawn on 14.12.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter NO TIES (M Chadwick). Before being allowed to race again, CONFUCIUS ELITE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HIT A HOME RUN began very awkwardly and then was ridden along to obtain a forward position. GOOD TIMES ROLL was crowded for room at the start between P J HALL and PENNY LANE which shifted in. BOLD TACK and NO TIES bumped at the start. In the early stages, NATURAL CHAMPION was ridden along to obtain a forward position and then in the Straight gave ground and finished tailed out. The performance of NATURAL CHAMPION was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, NATURAL CHAMPION will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Passing the 1200 Metres, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON became unbalanced after being bumped by RECORD HIGH. After this, RECORD HIGH was shifted out to relieve the tightening to TRIUMPHANT DRAGON, got its head up and proved difficult to settle. Passing the 1100 Metres, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON, which was racing keenly, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of CHARMGOLD. Near the 900 Metres, P J HALL, which had been proving difficult to settle for some distance, shifted out and bumped PENNY LANE, resulting in that horse being momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of NATURAL CHAMPION. Then approaching the 700 Metres, P J HALL again shifted out and became unbalanced when awkwardly placed inside the hindquarters of NATURAL CHAMPION. After the 900 Metres, HIT A HOME RUN was left racing wide and without cover. For some distance after the 700 Metres, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON, which was over-racing, was checked away from the heels of DRAGON CHOICE and approaching the 600 Metres shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of RECORD HIGH on two occasions, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. After the 500 Metres, DIAMOND START was steadied when attempting a tight run to the inside of BOLD TACK which at this stage shifted in away from the heels of NATURAL CHAMPION which was giving ground abruptly. Passing the 400 Metres, NO TIES was steadied away from the heels of SPECTACULAR AWARD when held up behind that horse. A short distance later, NO TIES was shifted to the outside of SPECTACULAR AWARD into clear running. SAMMY’S FALCON, which was following NO TIES, was also held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight. For some distance approaching and passing the 300 Metres, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON was unable to obtain clear running between CHARMGOLD and RECORD HIGH. Then passing the 200 Metres, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON was inconvenienced when racing tight to the outside of CHARMGOLD. In the Straight, NO TIES hung in under pressure. A veterinary inspection of RECORD HIGH immediately following the race revealed the horse to have bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of HIT A HOME RUN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. RECORD HIGH, PENNY LANE and NO TIES were sent for sampling.