27/04/2008  Shatin  Race 4

HELENE ELITE was slow to begin. MOONGLOW began awkwardly, then despite being ridden along failed to muster speed in the early stages. From wide barriers in the early stages, REWARDING STAR and SOHNA were taken across behind runners. After the 1200 Metres, MOONGLOW was steadied away from the heels of AMAZING VENTURE which shifted out when being steadied away from the heels of EXPEDIKID which shifted in when barely clear. No action was taken. Near the 1100 Metres, MOONGLOW was checked when crowded for room between BAJAN BELL which shifted out slightly while being ridden along to maintain its position and CLEMENT ELITE which when proving difficult to settle raced ungenerously, got its head up and shifted in away from the heels of MASTER DREAMER after initially being carried in slightly by that horse which was steadied away from the heels of HEIMORI. REWARDING STAR, which was following, was checked and shifted wider on the track. In the circumstances, the Stewards believed the manner in which CLEMENT ELITE had been racing contributed significantly to the incident, therefore no action was taken. After this incident, CLEMENT ELITE continued to prove very difficult to settle for a considerable distance. In the middle stages, BAJAN BELL proved difficult to settle. Also in the middle stages, MASTER DREAMER and NEW CHAPTER travelled wide and without cover. Near the 200 Metres, SOHNA, which was closing the race off strongly, was steadied and shifted out away from the heels of MASTER DREAMER which was giving ground. Then near the 100 Metres when continuing to close the race off strongly, SOHNA was steadied and shifted in when awkwardly placed close to the heels of HELENE ELITE. Approaching and passing the 200 Metres, REWARDING STAR had some difficulty when endeavouring to improve into a narrow run between EXPEDIKID and FANTASTIC TIME. When questioned regarding the poor performance of EXPEDIKID, H W Lai explained the horse sweated up badly in the Parade Ring and behind the barriers which it had not done at its most recent start. He said at no stage of today’s race did EXPEDIKID travel comfortably and he was required to make some use of the horse to obtain a forward position as instructed. He said in the Straight EXPEDIKID did not respond to his riding. BAJAN BELL and EXPEDIKID were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of BAJAN BELL and EXPEDIKID after the race did not show any significant findings. AMAZING VENTURE, BEAUTIFUL CHOICE and REWARDING STAR were sent for sampling.