07/10/2007  Shatin  Race 8

CHATER POWER was withdrawn on 5.10.07 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (respiratory disease) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter JOYFUL YEARS (Apprentice H W Lai). Before being allowed to race again, CHATER POWER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SUPER BABY, which was fractious in the saddling stalls, reared over, made contact with a rail and became distressed. The horse was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, the Stewards ordered the withdrawal of SUPER BABY. Before being allowed to race again, SUPER BABY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SUPER MUSIC was slow to begin and shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of TYCOON TAYLOR which shifted in after being brushed by OPERA MAGIC. FOREVER FIGHT began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped STILTON. BEAUTIFUL DREAMER began awkwardly. Passing the 1000 Metres, TYCOON TAYLOR shifted out, causing OPERA MAGIC to be taken out, resulting in RICH DRAGON and JOYFUL YEARS being hampered. Near the 900 Metres, LUCKY HERO was steadied to allow MACHO EXPRESSO (F Coetzee) which was barely clear to shift in. As a result of this, FOREVER FIGHT was steadied away from the heels of LUCKY HERO and shifted out, resulting in BOLD WIN, GOAL KEEPER and TYCOON TAYLOR being hampered. OPERA MAGIC, which was following TYCOON TAYLOR, was shifted out away from the heels of that horse, resulting in JOYFUL YEARS also being inconvenienced when taken wider on the track. F Coetzee was reprimanded and told to ensure he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground in future. A short distance after this, after crossing to the lead, MACHO EXPRESSO steadied the pace, resulting in STEP TO WIN getting its head in the air and being checked off the heels of MACHO EXPRESSO. BEAUTIFUL DREAMER, which was following STEP TO WIN, was checked in consequence. This caused STILTON, which was following BEAUTIFUL DREAMER, to also be hampered. At the 800 Metres, GOAL KEEPER was steadied away from the heels of BOLD WIN which shifted in. RICH DRAGON, which was following GOAL KEEPER, was steadied and shifted out in consequence. When questioned regarding his riding of STEP TO WIN in the early part of the Straight, Apprentice K T Yeung stated rounding the Home Turn he was following MACHO EXPRESSO and LUCKY HERO. He stated he observed LUCKY HERO roll out slightly on the point of the turn and he considered obtaining a run between that horse and MACHO EXPRESSO. He added however he was of the belief LUCKY HERO would shift back in and resume racing directly on the outside of MACHO EXPRESSO and for this reason he elected to commit himself to come back to the outside of LUCKY HERO to ensure he had clear and uninterrupted running. Apprentice Yeung conceded after viewing the film that LUCKY HERO did not shift back in and a run continued to exist between LUCKY HERO and MACHO EXPRESSO, however, he felt that in the circumstances the best option was to ensure STEP WO WIN obtained running in the Straight. Apprentice Yeung was advised to ensure at all times he is aware of runs in races as they become available, particularly at vital stages of the race. Subsequent to the race, A Delpech reported SUPER MUSIC was making a respiratory noise during the race. SUPER MUSIC was sent for an official veterinary inspection. After the race, SUPER MUSIC was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said an endoscopic examination showed the horse to be a “roarer”. RICH DRAGON was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of RICH DRAGON after the race did not show any significant findings. LUCKY HERO and MACHO EXPRESSO were sent for sampling.