14/10/2007  Shatin  Race 7

LIFELINE RAPIDE began awkwardly. After the 1100 Metres, BE MY SONG was hampered by ISLAND SUPER which at this time was carried wider by ONE WORLD. When BE MY SONG was hampered, SUPER HONEY was shifted wider on the track. Near the 800 Metres, LASER TIGER was left racing without cover. After the 800 Metres, LIFELINE RAPIDE was steadied when momentarily crowded for room inside BE MY SONG. Near the 200 Metres, SUPER HONEY, which was commencing to give ground, was checked when crowded for room between SURE JOY and ISLAND SUPER (A Delpech) which had been hanging in and when struck with the whip shifted in slightly. In the circumstances, A Delpech was severely reprimanded and told he should make a greater effort to prevent his mount from shifting ground. M Nunes (RICH DRAGON) explained he had been instructed to bring his mount from the rear to the outside in the Home Straight in an endeavour to ensure he had clear running. He said because of this shortly after straightening he commenced to shift his mount out in an endeavour to obtain clear running inside FLY HIGH. After reviewing the film, he conceded that at all times there was clear running to the inside which was available to him which would have enabled him to improve his position considerably. M Nunes was told regardless of the riding instructions issued to him, he should remain alert to opportunities to improve his position when they exist and take advantage of those opportunities. C K Tong (LIFELINE RAPIDE) said after entering the Home Straight he believed he would be able to shift out and obtain clear running between BE MY SONG and LASER TIGER. He said because the race had been run at a quick tempo, he was concerned if he remained racing towards the inside, horses which had raced on the speed would commence to give ground and make it difficult for him to obtain clear running. Z Purton (PROFITING CHAMPION) said he had been instructed from a wide barrier to ride the horse in a rearward position. He said he had been informed that previously PROFITING CHAMPION had been ridden quietly and had closed the race off fairly. He said therefore it was felt that it would be best suited to ride the horse in this manner today as to obtain a more favourable position would require him to make too much use of PROFITING CHAMPION. He said PROFITING CHAMPION proved very difficult to settle and as a consequence was not suited being ridden back in today’s race. Mr A Lee, trainer of PROFITING CHAMPION, confirmed the riding instructions issued to Z Purton. He said from a wide barrier he believed too much use would be required to be made of PROFITING CHAMPION to obtain a forward position and he was concerned the horse would be caught racing wide and without cover. He therefore wished to have the horse ridden in a rearward position. He did acknowledge after being ridden quietly today, PROFITING CHAMPION proved difficult to settle which in his opinion did not suit the horse. He said in the immediate future he intends on returning PROFITING CHAMPION to racing over the straight 1000 Metres where the tempo of the race would allow it to travel more comfortably. TEAM WORK was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of TEAM WORK after the race did not show any significant findings. ISLAND SUPER, ONE WORLD and DREAM HORSE were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported ONE WORLD had lost its right hind plate and FLY HIGH had sustained a cut to the right hind heel. Following the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on both SUPER HONEY and BE MY SONG at the request of their respective trainers. The Veterinary Officer said these examinations showed a substantial amount of blood in the tracheas of both SUPER HONEY and BE MY SONG.