28/12/2014  Shatin  Race 2

POSITIVE ENERGY was withdrawn on 27.12.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inappetence) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SKY FIRE (M L Yeung). Before being allowed to race again, POSITIVE ENERGY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. NATURAL EIGHT, which became fractious and made contact with a rail when reluctant to enter the track, was examined by the Veterinary Surgeon on arrival at the Start who said that the horse was suitable to race. On arrival at the Start, BERNARD’S CHOICE was found to be bleeding heavily from a wound on the right hind leg. Acting on advice from the Veterinary Surgeon that BERNARD’S CHOICE was not suitable to race, it was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, BERNARD’S CHOICE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HAPPILY TIME, which began awkwardly, was crowded for room on jumping between WINNING BOY and SEA FURY which shifted out after also beginning awkwardly. From a wide barrier, NATURAL EIGHT was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Despite being aggressively ridden in the early stages, HAPPY GOAL was slow to muster speed. Passing the 1100 Metres, RIBOT LEGACY was awkwardly placed behind WINNING BOY. For some distance after the 1000 Metres, FOREVER GENKI was awkwardly placed close to the heels of NEW PET. In this incident, FOREVER GENKI shifted in and bumped HAPPILY TIME. Approaching the 900 Metres, NEW PET was steadied away from the heels of SKY FIRE which shifted in when not properly clear. FOREVER GENKI and WINNING BOY, which were following, were hampered in consequence. M L Yeung was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in future. Approaching the 700 Metres, RIBOT LEGACY commenced to prove difficult to settle and shifted out away from the heels of NEW PET, resulting in FOREVER GENKI being bumped and taken wider. After this, FOREVER GENKI travelled wide and without cover. Rounding the Home Turn, NEW PET and RIBOT LEGACY raced tight as NEW PET shifted out to obtain clear running. Also rounding the Home Turn, KING TAI SING got its head on the side, lay out and was awkwardly placed inside the heels of SIR JOHN. WINNING BOY had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. For some distance after the 200 Metres, NATURAL EIGHT and SEA FURY came into contact as SEA FURY attempted to shift to the outside of HAPPILY TIME which also shifted out under pressure. The performance of SKY FIRE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SKY FIRE 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 SIR JOHN, D Whyte stated that, from a wide barrier, he was asked to ride SIR JOHN positively and race in a forward position. He said after racing to the outside of the leader and eventual winner SPURS ON throughout the race, SIR JOHN came under pressure in the early part of the Straight and then was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of SIR JOHN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, H W Lai stated that he had been asked to obtain cover on RIBOT LEGACY and it was felt that this would be in about a midfield position or slightly worse. He said in the early stages when steadying RIBOT LEGACY to obtain cover, the horse got its head up on a number of occasions and initially proved difficult to settle. He said after the 1100 Metres he was able to shift RIBOT LEGACY across to a position to be racing behind HAPPILY TIME with cover as requested. He said RIBOT LEGACY raced keenly after the 800 Metres, however, continued to travel satisfactorily. He said rounding the Home Turn he was unable to prevent NEW PET from shifting out to the inside of RIBOT LEGACY and after this the horse, when placed under pressure, did not finish off the race as anticipated and, in his opinion, was disappointing. A veterinary inspection of RIBOT LEGACY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of FOREVER GENKI immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SIR JOHN, SPURS ON and KING TAI SING were sent for sampling.