01/07/2016  Shatin  Race 8

PEACE ON EARTH was withdrawn on 30.6.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SILVER GATSBY. Before being allowed to race again, PEACE ON EARTH will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ROBUST MOMENTUM and SILVER GATSBY bumped at the start. From the outside barrier, COUR VALANT was steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages. EXCELLENCE was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Passing the 1200 Metres, COUR VALANT got its head up when proving difficult to settle. After the 1000 Metres, MAGIC STAR was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 900 Metres, COUR VALANT got its head up on a number of occasions and proved very difficult to settle when awkwardly placed close to the heels of MAGNETISM. In this incident, COUR VALANT shifted in and bumped BEST EFFORT. COUR VALANT then continued to prove difficult to settle and near the 750 Metres improved to be racing very close to the heels of MAGNETISM and shifted in, causing BEST EFFORT to be crowded for room. In the early part of the Straight, ROYALE ELEGANCE raced close to the heels of THUNDER DASH when being positioned to improve between that horse and MAGIC STAR. Then near the 300 Metres, ROYALE ELEGANCE lay in and was reluctant to shift to the outside of THUNDER DASH and in doing so clipped the heels of THUNDER DASH and blundered. EXCELLENCE had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Approaching the 200 Metres, COUR VALANT, which was laying in, was checked away from the heels of MAGIC STAR which shifted out marginally. MAGNETISM was unable to obtain clear running until passing the 200 Metres. Passing the 50 Metres, EXCELLENCE was shifted out away from the heels of ROYALE ELEGANCE. Close to the finishing line, COUR VALANT was momentarily steadied away from the heels of CASH COURIER. When questioned, N Rawiller stated that he had been asked to obtain cover on VOLITATION if possible, however, due to the circumstances of the race in the early stages he was required to clear THUNDER DASH to his inside so as not to race unnecessarily wide which resulted in VOLITATION having to race without cover for the majority of the race. He said the horse travelled satisfactorily until being placed under pressure at the entrance to the Straight. He said the horse did not show the turn of foot he expected and, despite being ridden out, was disappointing in the manner in which it gave ground over the latter stages of the race. He added after the race he felt VOLITATION may have been short in its action, however, he was not able to detect any lameness. He said VOLITATION raced “flat” today. A veterinary inspection of VOLITATION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, VOLITATION will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of SILVER GATSBY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. FASHION MAESTRO and SUPER MAN were sent for sampling.