06/01/2008  Shatin  Race 5

During the preliminary, C Soumillon was dislodged from ALICE TOO. ALICE TOO completed in excess of a full circuit of the course prior to being recaptured. Acting on the advice of the Veterinary Officer that ALICE TOO was not suitable to race, the Stewards ordered the withdrawal of the horse. After the race, it was reported ALICE TOO had sustained lacerations to both its right front and right hind legs. PRIDEOFTHEORIENT bounded in the air at the start and lost ground. Making the Home Turn, HAPPY HEROES was held up and unable to obtain clear running. Also making the Home Turn, PRIDEOFTHEORIENT was held up and unable to obtain clear running and near the 300 Metres when hanging in was steadied when disappointed for running between DRAGON STRIDE and SEA TREASURE. Throughout the race, FREEBIRD, which was hanging out, travelled wide and for the majority of the race without cover. The performance of LUCKY WORLD, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY WORLD will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, Apprentice K T Yeung (EVER KING) said he had been instructed from the outside barrier to endeavour to obtain the lead if possible. He said EVER KING began well and did not show the pace of the runners drawn to his inside, he therefore rode along in an endeavour to carry out his instructions. He said approaching the first turn FREEBIRD, which was racing to his inside, commenced to hang out and as a consequence shifted wider on the track, causing EVER KING in turn to be carried wider. He said after this while racing wide on the track without cover he endeavoured to improve his position to cross FREEBIRD, however, when he did this FREEBIRD maintained its position to his inside. He said after entering the Back Straight he continued to ride along, however, was held wide by FREEBIRD and as a consequence EVER KING commenced to give ground prior to the 700 Metres. Mr J Moore, trainer of EVER KING, confirmed the riding instructions issued to Apprentice Yeung. He said from the wide barrier it was felt by having the horse ridden in this manner was the best opportunity to avoid having the horse caught wide without cover. He said he anticipated EVER KING would have sufficient speed to cross runners drawn to its inside and that the horse had performed satisfactorily when being ridden in the lead at its most recent start on the All Weather Track. Apprentice Yeung, in the presence of his allocated trainer, Mr A T Millard, was reprimanded and told in the opinion of the Stewards he had persevered for too great a time in endeavouring to carry out the riding instructions issued to him and in similar circumstances he would be expected to display initiative to avoid being caught wide. Regardless of this, the performance of EVER KING, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, EVER KING will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. EVER KING and FREEBIRD were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of EVER KING and FREEBIRD after the race did not show any significant findings. SEA TREASURE and PRIDEOFTHEORIENT were sent for sampling.