10/04/2016  Shatin  Race 2

PLAIN BLUE BANNER was withdrawn on 9.4.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter TRIPLE KING (Y T Cheng). Before being allowed to race again, PLAIN BLUE BANNER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ALWAYS WONGCHOY was slow to begin. MEDIC SWORDSMAN was slow to begin and then despite being ridden along failed to muster speed. TRIPLE KING began only fairly and shortly after the start became unbalanced after shifting out and bumping the hindquarters of BE THERE AHEAD. Passing the 1000 Metres, GOOD VIEW DELIGHTS proved difficult to settle. TRIPLE KING made the turn near the 900 Metres awkwardly. At the entrance to the Straight, GOOD VIEW DELIGHTS raced tight between GLORY SUNSHINE and MEDIC SWORDSMAN which shifted out. Near the 350 Metres, PERFECT TIMING was momentarily crowded for room between GOOD VIEW DELIGHTS and BERNARD'S CHOICE, both of which shifted slight ground. In this incident, all three horses became unbalanced due to contact. Near the 250 Metres, BERNARD'S CHOICE momentarily raced tight inside MAGICAL BEAM. Then near the 200 Metres, BERNARD'S CHOICE was steadied when crowded for room between MAGICAL BEAM and GLORY SUNSHINE which, after initially being bumped by MEDIC SWORDSMAN (G Lerena), then got its head on the side and shifted out away from that horse. G Lerena was advised to make every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances. Passing the 200 Metres, PERFECT TIMING got its head on the side and shifted out abruptly, resulting in BLAZING PASS being inconvenienced. Throughout the race, GLORY SUNSHINE travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, K C Leung stated that he had been asked, from the outside barrier, to ensure that BE THERE AHEAD began well and then to shift the horse over to obtain cover. He said he was told if he immediately shifted the horse across behind runners without allowing BE THERE AHEAD the opportunity to begin positively, the horse would get too far out of its ground in the early stages. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode his mount along briefly after the start and had hoped to obtain a position with cover behind MAGICAL BEAM and in advance of TRIPLE KING, however, TRIPLE KING maintained its position to the inside of BE THERE AHEAD and for this reason he was not able to initially obtain cover. He added after the 1100 Metres it appeared as though that the gap may open up between MAGICAL BEAM and TRIPLE KING as that horse was struggling to maintain its position and therefore he attempted to shift BE THERE AHEAD to obtain this position, however, the pace of the race slackened at this time which resulted in the field compressing and he was consequently unable to obtain cover. He said because of this BE THERE AHEAD was left racing very wide and without cover throughout the race and in the Straight gave ground. A veterinary inspection of BE THERE AHEAD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of BE THERE AHEAD, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BE THERE AHEAD will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding the performance of LEAN JOURNEY, C Schofield stated that he was able to obtain a trailing position behind GLORY SUNSHINE in the early stages and that LEAN JOURNEY initially travelled comfortably. He said however that rounding the turns LEAN JOURNEY got its head on the side and lay out and he had to ride the horse along in an attempt to have it maintain its position. He said when laying out, LEAN JOURNEY lost its action and he was not able to get the horse to balance up again. He added due to the manner in which the horse raced in the middle stages, LEAN JOURNEY then gave ground in the Straight and performed disappointingly. A veterinary inspection of LEAN JOURNEY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of THUNDERSTROKE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse's trachea. A veterinary inspection of GLORY SUNSHINE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GLORY SUNSHINE, FRIENDS FOREVER and MAGICAL BEAM were sent for sampling.