27/05/2018  Shatin  Race 3

FLAME LILY was withdrawn on 26.5.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right hind). Before being allowed to race again, FLAME LILY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. RED ELYSEES was slow to begin. HEROIC GURU began awkwardly. SUNNY POWER shifted out at the start and bumped AMBITIOUS HEART. BO DUKE began awkwardly and then after failing to muster speed was shifted across behind runners. From a wide barrier, ENJOYABLE SUCCESS was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. At the 1500 Metres, MEGA TREASURE jumped a mark on the track and became unbalanced. PO CHING TREASURE, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of MEGA TREASURE in consequence. When being steadied to obtain cover behind AMBITIOUS HEART passing the 1500 Metres, SUNNY POWER got its head up and travelled keenly. After the 900 Metres, SMART CHARADE was left racing wide and without cover. At the entrance to the Straight, M L Yeung (MEGA TREASURE) dropped his whip. As this was the third occasion this season that M L Yeung had been reported to have dropped his whip, he was placed on notice that should he again drop his whip in a race this season, he may be penalized. Passing the 400 Metres, GOOD CHOICE AHEAD was shifted to the outside of MEGA TREASURE when that horse was directed to the inside of THE FULL BLOOM to obtain clear running. RED ELYSEES had difficulty obtaining a run in the early part of the Straight and passing the 300 Metres was directed to the outside of runners to obtain clear running. When questioned, Apprentice H N Wong stated that he was asked to ride THE FULL BLOOM positively out of the gates in an attempt to obtain a position in about midfield if possible. He said after beginning well he commenced to shift THE FULL BLOOM across to obtain a position behind runners in the early stages, however, as it became apparent to him that it would not be possible to obtain a midfield position or in advance of midfield due to the positioning of runners drawn better than THE FULL BLOOM, he allowed his mount to improve its position to race outside the lead after the 1400 Metres. He said when MEGA TREASURE was steadied, he then permitted THE FULL BLOOM to obtain the outright lead in the middle stages. A veterinary inspection of GOOD CHOICE AHEAD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SUNNY POWER and HEROIC GURU were sent for sampling.