13/04/2014  Shatin  Race 6

STAR MAJESTIC was withdrawn on 12.4.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (substantial amount of mucopus on scoping after track work) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter HEAR THE ROAR (Y T Cheng). Before being allowed to race again, STAR MAJESTIC will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As the start was effected, VARA PEARL lifted its front feet off the ground and shifted out shortly after the start and in doing so bumped the hindquarters of QUALITY KING which also shifted in. After this, VARA PEARL was taken across behind runners. ISLAND GARDEN was taken across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1000 Metres, HOME JOYFUL HOME commenced to prove very difficult to settle, got its head up and shifted out abruptly away from the heels of COMMANDANT making the turn near the 900 Metres. After this, HOME JOYFUL HOME continued to prove very difficult to settle for a considerable distance. HEAR THE ROAR, which was following HOME JOYFUL HOME, was inconvenienced in consequence. Before being allowed to race again, HOME JOYFUL HOME will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial around a bend. HOME JOYFUL HOME lost its left front plate around the 800 Metres. Near the 400 Metres, HEAR THE ROAR was steadied away from the heels of ISLAND GARDEN (Z Purton) which shifted to the inside of HOME JOYFUL HOME to improve. Z Purton was advised to ensure that he is sufficiently clear of other runners when shifting ground in future. Also near the 400 Metres, MR GOURMET was checked when attempting to improve between WINNING PREMIUM (A Suborics) and HOME JOYFUL HOME (T H So), both of which shifted a minimal amount of ground. Whilst A Suborics and T H So were advised that their shifts were not significant and therefore did not breach the Rules of Racing, nonetheless they must ensure that they make every endeavour to keep their mounts on a straight course in similar circumstances. Approaching the 200 Metres, HEAR THE ROAR was awkwardly placed inside HOME JOYFUL HOME which shifted in under pressure. Throughout the race, NINE DRAGONS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of MR GOURMET, J Moreira stated that his mount did not travel comfortably at any stage of the race. He said MR GOURMET became unbalanced in its action on a number of occasions and he had to niggle the horse along during the race in order to attempt to have it travel more comfortably. He said although MR GOURMET was checked near the 400 Metres, it was not travelling strongly at this time and for this reason was not able to improve its position between runners prior to receiving interference. He added he continued to test MR GOURMET after this incident, however, the horse did not respond to his riding and was disappointing. He said he did ease the horse down over about the final 150 Metres as he had concerns over the welfare of the horse given that it was not responding to his riding. Mr C H Yip, the trainer of MR GOURMET, stated that he was unable to offer any explanation for MR GOURMET’S disappointing performance. He said he added the sheepskin cheek pieces to the gear of MR GOURMET for today’s race as the horse had shown an inclination to shift ground on turns and he felt that this piece of gear would assist it in being able to negotiate the turns more tractably. He said as he was unable to find any reason for the horse’s poor run, he would consider altering the gear worn by MR GOURMET prior to its next race start. A veterinary inspection of MR GOURMET immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of MR GOURMET, a favourite for today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MR GOURMET will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of WINNING PREMIUM, A Suborics stated that he was able to obtain a good position from barrier 2 in the early stages and WINNING PREMIUM initially travelled well. He said however that when NINE DRAGONS improved its position around WINNING PREMIUM after the 900 Metres, WINNING PREMIUM was reluctant to maintain its position and he had to ride the horse along after the 800 Metres in order to have it continue racing behind FURIO. He added WINNING PREMIUM continued to be reluctant to hold its position and he had to ride the horse aggressively after the 700 Metres. He said, despite being ridden along, WINNING PREMIUM lost ground rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight shifted in slightly. He said after he corrected WINNING PREMIUM, he continued to ride the horse along, however, WINNING PREMIUM did not finish off the race and was disappointing. He said, in his opinion, the manner in which WINNING PREMIUM was reluctant to hold its position indicated that the horse would derive benefit from racing as it is somewhat immature at this time. A veterinary inspection of WINNING PREMIUM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MR GOURMET, REALLY THE BEST and ISLAND GARDEN were sent for sampling.