21/10/2007  Shatin  Race 9

As the gates opened, BULLISH LUCK put its head down and as a consequence lost a considerable amount of ground at the start. GOOD BA BA began awkwardly. From the outside barrier, VITAL KING was taken across behind runners. At the 1100 Metres, GOOD BA BA was hampered by ROYAL PRINCE which became unbalanced and shifted in when being steadied away from the heels of FLORAL PEGASUS which itself was steadied away from the heels of TIBER which shifted to a position behind THE DUKE with cover. No action was taken. At the 700 Metres, ROYAL PRINCE became unbalanced when crowded for room between GOOD BA BA and FLORAL PEGASUS which shifted in momentarily. For some distance after this, ROYAL PRINCE raced ungenerously. Just prior to straightening, ROYAL PRINCE and GOOD BA BA, which were attempting to obtain the same run, were steadied when disappointed for running between ART TRADER and JOYFUL WINNER which shifted out slightly. In the early part of the Straight, BULLISH LUCK and ABLE ONE raced tight due mainly to BULLISH LUCK shifting out. At the 350 Metres, JOYFUL WINNER proved difficult to shift towards the outside of DOWN TOWN into clear running. Over the final 200 Metres, DOWN TOWN hung out. After the 50 Metres, BULLISH LUCK and VIVA PATACA bumped. K Shea (ART TRADER) said he was instructed to jump the horse out and allow it to travel where it was comfortable. He said with the horse racing first up from a spell today, it was thought this might be in a midfield position. He said ART TRADER began well without being pressured to obtain a position slightly in front of midfield and travelled comfortably. He said approaching the 1000 Metres ART TRADER commenced to over-race and because of this was steadied away from the heels of DOWN TOWN. When questioned, B Prebble (ROYAL PRINCE) said after the horse’s blindfold was removed, it became fractious prior to the start being effected. He said as a result ROYAL PRINCE bounded in the air at the start and lost ground. He said in the middle stages of the race ROYAL PRINCE travelled like a fresh horse and on a number of occasions became unbalanced. He said because of the manner in which ROYAL PRINCE raced the horse failed to finish the race off. ROYAL PRINCE was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. After the race, ROYAL PRINCE was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said an endoscopic examination showed the horse to have a displacement of the soft palate and a substantial amount of mucopus in its trachea. FLORAL PEGASUS was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of FLORAL PEGASUS after the race did not show any significant findings. DOWN TOWN and GOOD BA BA were sent for sampling.