24/03/2008  Shatin  Race 2

W M Lai (ELEPHANT STAR) was fined $2,000 for initially weighing out with two girths requiring him having to re-weigh. After being boxed, ICHIBAN became fractious. Before being allowed to race again, ICHIBAN will have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. FASTER FASTER was slow to begin. CLASSIC HORSE began awkwardly, got its head up and was then taken across behind runners. From the wide barrier, ELECTRONIC MASTER was taken across behind runners in the early stages. In the early stages, TELECOM EMPEROR proved difficult to settle and making the turn at the 800 Metres was steadied away from the heels of ICHIBAN after being carried out SUPER BOBO which commenced to over-race and shifted out away from the heels of SUPER MUSIC. After this, SUPER BOBO continued to over-race. Approaching the 600 Metres, SUPER BOBO was steadied while awkwardly placed inside the heels of SUPER MUSIC. From the 400 Metres until the 250 Metres, CLASSIC HORSE was held up and unable to obtain clear running. From the 400 Metres until the 200 Metres, FASTER FASTER was held up and unable to obtain clear running. After the 400 Metres, TELECOM EMPEROR was steadied away from the heels of ICHIBAN which was carried wider by ELEPHANT STAR which in turn was carried out by ME THE BEST. When giving ground after the 200 Metres, ME THE BEST became unbalanced, shifted out and caused some inconvenience to SUPER BOBO which as a result was steadied. After this, ME THE BEST was eased down. Over the concluding stages, CLASSIC HORSE hung in. In the Home Straight, EXPEDIKID hung out and proved difficult to ride. When questioned regarding the poor performance of ICHIBAN, D Whyte said his mount began only fairly after being fractious in the barrier. He said after this he rode ICHIBAN along throughout the race, however, the horse travelled only fairly and in the Straight kept on one-paced. He said the manner in which ICHIBAN performed indicated to him the horse may be better suited over distances of further than the 1200 Metres of today’s race. ICHIBAN was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. SUPER MUSIC and ME THE BEST were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of ICHIBAN, SUPER MUSIC and ME THE BEST after the race did not show any significant findings. SUPER CEE JAY and EXPEDIKID were sent for sampling. After the race, it was reported ALIVE AND KICKING had sustained a bleeding wound to the outside of its right front cannon.