25/05/2008  Shatin  Race 2

CHATER DE LAGO, which was fractious in the stall, bounded in the air at the start and lost ground. From a wide barrier, PURE ALPHA was taken across behind runners in the early stages, then commenced to travel keenly and making the first turn got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY after initially being carried out by CHATER DE LAGO. After this, PURE ALPHA continued to prove difficult to settle. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, VINCERE failed to muster speed. From a wide barrier in the early stages, ELEPHANT DANCE was allowed to drift back, then when racing wide making the first turn hung out. In the early and middle stages, MAGIC TEMPLE proved difficult to settle. Making the Home Turn, PURE ALPHA and SOARING DRAGON raced tight as PURE ALPHA endeavoured to improve outside the heels of GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY. Near the 100 Metres, CLASSIC KING became badly unbalanced after being bumped on two occasions by ALIVE AND KICKING (Apprentice K T Yeung) which shifted abruptly when being shifted out to avoid the heels of BLISS STAR which was giving ground. In the circumstances, Apprentice Yeung was severely reprimanded and told he would be expected to make a greater effort to protect his fellow riders. After the 100 Metres, CARE FREE MIDAS commenced to shift out. Because of this, D Whyte, its rider, stopped riding and straightened his mount. When questioned regarding the poor performance of SOARING DRAGON, Z Purton said the horse was not suited by dropping back in distance to 1650 Metres today. He said the race was run at a quick tempo and because of this he had to make some use of SOARING DRAGON throughout the race in an endeavour to hold its position and as a consequence the horse kept on only one-paced in the Straight. SOARING DRAGON and PURE ALPHA were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of SOARING DRAGON and PURE ALPHA after the race did not show any significant findings. NIGHT HUNTER III and CARE FREE MIDAS were sent for sampling. After the race, it was reported CLASSIC KING had lost its right front plate.