06/01/2008  Shatin  Race 4

On jumping, BAUHINIA and DOUBLE FANTASY bumped. In the early and middle stages, STRAIGHT VICTORY, which was hard ridden to travel forward, raced wide and without cover. Approaching the 200 Metres, COULDN’T CARE LESS, which was having difficulty obtaining clear running, was steadied and shifted to the outside of BAUHINIA. Close to the winning post, STARFINDER became unbalanced when bumped by STRAIGHT VICTORY which when giving ground shifted in. In the Straight, DOUBLE FANTASY hung in and proved difficult to ride. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HAPPY ASH, Apprentice K L Chui said he had been instructed to lead on the horse. He said accordingly he rode to go forward after the start, however, SUPER BALL was hard ridden to maintain a position on his inside. He said because of the tempo of the race, he would have been required to make too much use of HAPPY ASH in the early stages to cross SUPER BALL to obtain the fence, he therefore continued racing forward of but to the outside of that horse. He said approaching the 800 Metres he was able to cross SUPER BALL. He said when STRAIGHT VICTORY improved on his outside at the 600 Metres, HAPPY ASH immediately came under pressure and failed to respond to his riding. He said in his opinion the poor performance of HAPPY ASH was attributable to the work it was required to do in the early stages as he endeavoured to follow his riding instructions. HAPPY ASH was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. After the race, HAPPY ASH was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY ASH will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. E Saint-Martin (ARISTOCRACY) was not able to offer an explanation for the poor performance of the horse. He said ARISTOCRACY travelled comfortably in the run, when placed under pressure after straightening responded only fairly, then after the 200 Metres was steadied away from the heels of DOUBLE FANTASY and afterwards did not respond to his riding. The performance of ARISTOCRACY, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ARISTOCRACY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. AS YOU WISH and ARISTOCRACY were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of AS YOU WISH and ARISTOCRACY after the race did not show any significant findings. SPRING SMILES and COULDN’T CARE LESS were sent for sampling.