08/11/2008  Shatin  Race 2

NOBLE DE LAGO was withdrawn on 6.11.08 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (substantial amount of mucopus in trachea on scoping after track work) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter PAR EXCELLENCE. Before being allowed to race again, NOBLE DE LAGO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. BOLD DECISION and REGENCY KINGDOM were difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, BOLD DECISION and REGENCY KINGDOM will both have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. WASABISABI began awkwardly PAR EXCELLENCE was slow into stride. Shortly after the start, BOLD DECISION was checked to avoid the heels of EXTRACTIVE which shifted out after being bumped by WASABISABI. At the 800 Metres, GRAND DRAGON was inconvenienced by EXTRACTIVE which when racing greenly shifted out away from the heels of WASABISABI. At the 600 Metres, WERREADY became unbalanced when awkwardly placed outside NATURAL FLAME which was carried out slightly by SHY BALDY. For the major part of the race, WASABISABI hung out and at the 400 Metres was steadied away from the heels of BOLD DECISION which shifted out slightly. Consideration was given to a protest/objection lodged by C W Wong, the rider of DOUBLE DRAGON, 3rd placegetter, against SHY BALDY (H W Lai) being declared the 2nd placegetter for alleged interference inside the final 300 Metres. The evidence disclosed that after the 200 Metres SHY BADLY shifted in when not properly clear of DOUBLE DRAGON, resulting in that horse being steadied and shifted out. The Stewards were of the opinion, bearing in mind the half length margin between the horses at the end of the race, that had the interference received by DOUBLE DRAGON not occurred, that horse would not have finished in front of SHY BALDY. Therefore the protest/objection was overruled and weighed-in was declared on the numbers as semaphored by the Judge. Subsequently H W Lai was severely reprimanded and told to exercise greater care. Approaching the winning post, NATURAL FLAME, which was improving into a narrow run on the outside of PAR EXCELLENCE (E Saint-Martin) was checked when PAR EXCELLENCE shifted out slightly. In the circumstances, the Stewards believed it appropriate to issue E Saint-Martin with a severe reprimand and he was advised to exercise greater care. The performance of EXTRACTIVE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, EXTRACTIVE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, Y T Cheng (GIVE WELL) explained the horse had shown itself to be a fractious type since its arrival in Hong Kong. He said today from a gate towards the inside GIVE WELL began only fairly, he immediately commenced to ride along, however, the horse was out-paced. He said at the 800 Metres GIVE WELL which was hanging out shifted out and was steadied away from the heels of EXTRACTIVE. He said after this he continued to ride GIVE WELL along to ensure the horse maintained its position and at the 600 Metres he steadied and shifted out away from DAILY DOUBLE. He said after this GIVE WELL was then held up and unable to improve for a considerable distance and near the 400 Metres he endeavoured to obtain clear running to the outside of PAR EXCELLENCE and in doing so bumped with NATURAL FLAME. He said GIVE WELL was not able to obtain this running and as a consequence was then held up between PAR EXCELLENCE and DAILY DOUBLE until near the 100 Metres. He said over the final 100 Metres he rode GIVE WELL out hands and heels, however, the horse did not respond to his riding. Y T Cheng was severely reprimanded and told his riding approaching and passing the 200 Metres had come under notice and in similar circumstances he would be expected to make a greater effort to provide his mounts with clear running. When questioned regarding the performance of WASABISABI, B Prebble explained the horse has been a difficult horse since its arrival in Hong Kong. He said today WASABISABI did not begin well and raced greenly for the major part of the race. He said near the 600 Metres when GRAND DRAGON shifted across to race on his outside, WASABISABI which had been hanging out for the major part of the race got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of BOLD DECISION. He said during this section of the race WASABISABI appeared reluctant to race amongst horses. He said after the 400 Metres he pulled the whip on WASABISABI in an endeavour to have the horse improve its position, however, as it was still amongst horses, WASABISABI did not lengthen stride. He said when clear of other horses over the concluding stages, WASABISABI kept on reasonably. He said in his opinion the performance of WASABISABI was due to its lack of experience. WASABISABI was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of WASABISABI after the race did not show any significant findings. M Du Plessis (WERREADY) explained he had ridden the horse, which was having its first race start, in work in the lead up to today’s race. He said in his opinion WERREADY had not been impressive in its barrier trials on the All Weather surface, however, the horse had worked satisfactorily on the grass training gallops when it was held together. He said in these gallops when WERREADY had been asked to quicken, it came off the bridle and its work then was only fair. He said today WERREADY travelled only reasonably in the early stages, came under pressure at the 500 Metres and did not respond to his riding. WERREADY was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. A veterinary inspection of WERREADY after the race did not show any significant findings. BOLD DECISION and SHY BALDY were sent for sampling.