12/01/2008  Shatin  Race 9

HERE WE GO began awkwardly, bumped the inside gate of its stall and then despite being ridden along failed to muster speed. BLUE SAINT and MASSIVE STAR were slow to begin. Near the 1100 Metres, when W M Lai (MASSIVE STAR) changed the whip into his left hand, he momentarily dropped his left rein. After the 900 Metres, HANDSOME TARGET became unbalanced when close to the heels of CRAIG’S DRAGON. From a wide barrier, WELL NOTED was taken across behind runners, then making the turn at the 800 Metres was steadied away from the heels of LADY FIRST. LADY FIRST made the turn at the 700 Metres awkwardly. At the 700 Metres, BLUE SAINT, which was hanging out, was checked when awkwardly placed inside the heels of MARIBEAU. When BLUE SAINT checked, THUNDER DANCING was steadied and shifted out away from its heels and in doing so carried HANDSOME TARGET wider. Making the Home Turn, HANDSOME TARGET was carried wider by THUNDER DANCING which at this time was shifted towards running on the outside of CRAIG’S DRAGON. After the 400 Metres, THUNDER DANCING was steadied away from the heels of CRAIG’S DRAGON after being carried in by HANDSOME TARGET (B Prebble) which shifted ground. B Prebble was told in similar circumstances he would be expected to exercise greater care. For some distance after this, THUNDER DANCING had difficulty obtaining clear running. After the 300 Metres, MAINLAND SHUTTLE was steadied and shifted out when having difficulty obtaining clear running. Mr D J Hall, trainer of HANDSOME TARGET, said with the increase in distance to 1400 Metres today, he had instructed B Prebble to ride the horse in a more forward position than has previously been the case in races over a shorter distance. He said he anticipated the tempo of this race would enable this to happen without use being made of HANDSOME TARGET. He said since arriving in Hong Kong he has had difficulty training HANDSOME TARGET which in the past had jarred up on hard surfaces. He said because of this he has not been able to increase the distance of HANDSOME TARGET’s races as he would have liked. He said at HANDSOME TARGET’S last start the horse had got back and due to the circumstances of the race had covered more ground than he would have liked and had become unbalanced when bumped on the Home Turn when wide on the track. He said the manner in which HANDSOME TARGET finished off its race had indicated to him that the horse would be suited by a step up in distance. He said HANDSOME TARGET was fancied by the stable today due to the increase in distance which it was anticipated would enable the horse to be closer in the run. He was told his explanation would be reported. CRAIG’S DRAGON, HANDSOME TARGET and FAVOURITE SUPREME were sent for sampling. After the race, an endoscopic examination was carried out on MARIBEAU at the request of Trainer J Size. The Veterinary Officer said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, MARIBEAU will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.