12/10/2008  Shatin  Race 3

After runners for this race were mounted in the Parade Ring, JOHNSON became fractious and bucked on several occasions, resulting in D Beadman, its rider, being dislodged. The Club's doctor advised that D Beadman had sustained an injury to his tail bone and was not suitable to fulfil this riding engagement and his remaining riding engagements today. Acting on this advice, the Stewards permitted the substitution of Z Purton as the rider of JOHNSON. As the racing colours of JOHNSON were not available to be used by Z Purton, the Stewards directed that the horse carry the Club's colours. GOOD TIME CHARLIE began awkwardly and then making the turn after the 800 Metres hung out. QUICK MONEY was slow to begin. Shortly after the start, WEALTHY SYNERGY and SCOOT DA LOOT bumped. As a consequence, WEALTHY SYNERGY lost ground. At the 1000 Metres, JOHNSON got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of BE MY SONG. At the 900 Metres, SCOOT DA LOOT was bumped by REAL PLEASURE which shifted out when being steadied away from the heels of MORE BOUNTIFUL when that horse shifted wider. Passing the 500 Metres, SCOOT DA LOOT was steadied when awkwardly placed outside REAL PLEASURE and inside the heels of JOHNSON which commenced to give ground. Making the Home Turn, MORE BOUNTIFUL became unbalanced. At the 200 Metres, MORE BOUNTIFUL was steadied when crowded for room inside LOYAL ARMY (Y T Cheng) which in the Straight had been proving difficult to ride while hanging in and at this time shifted ground. No action was taken. After this incident, LOYAL ARMY continued to hang in, obliging Y T Cheng to stop riding and straighten his mount. After the 50 Metres, MORE BOUNTIFUL became unbalanced and shifted wider when being shifted to the outside of LOYAL ARMY. For the major part of the race, MORE BOUNTIFUL hung out. Throughout the race, JOHNSON and LONGWAH RISING travelled wide and without cover. E Saint-Martin (BREEZY WILL), which was having its second race start today, explained when he rode the horse in a forward position at its only other start, it had proved difficult to settle, hung out badly and failed to finish the race off. He said because of this today he was instructed to ride BREEZY WILL more quietly and to ensure he had cover. He said BREEZY WILL began well and he allowed the horse to drift back in the hope of obtaining a position about midfield. He said it soon became apparent to him that he would be left racing wide on the track if he travelled in midfield, he therefore took BREEZY WILL back to a position near the rear. He said BREEZY WILL again hung out today in the middle stages, however, travelled more kindly than it did at its first race start. He said in the Straight BREEZY WILL finished the race off only moderately. SCOOT DA LOOT was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of SCOOT DA LOOT after the race did not show any significant findings. BE MY SONG and LONGWAH RISING were sent for sampling.