08/11/2008  Shatin  Race 10

ROYAL PRIDE was slow to begin. Shortly after the start, MY CHOICE was steadied when crowded for room between MASTER POWER and HOLI RAVIOLI. Making the turn at the 800 Metres, SILVER SUN was left racing wide and without cover. From on straightening until after the 400 Metres, GALLANT LION was held up and unable to improve. From on straightening until after the 200 Metres, KING ENCOSTA did not obtain clear running and therefore was unable to improve. Also from on straightening until after the 200 Metres, AGILITY had difficulty obtaining clear running and therefore could not be fully tested. From on straightening until the 200 Metres, MASTER POWER was held up and unable to obtain clear running, then when being shifted out to obtain clear running was steadied away from the heels of MY CHOICE. In the early part of the Straight, SKYVIEW BAR had difficulty obtaining clear running. About 30 Metres from the winning post, D Beadman (MASTER POWER) lost control of his whip, however, a short distance later he was able to regain the whip and ride his mount out to the end of the race. Mr J Moore, the trainer of SUNNY KING (Z Purton), 2nd placegetter, lodged a protest/objection against SKYVIEW BAR (H W Lai) being declared the winner for alleged interference near the 300 Metres. The evidence disclosed that approaching the 300 Metres SUNNY KING which had been held up and unable to obtain clear running was checked severely when disappointed for running between MASTER POWER and SKYVIEW BAR which shifted out. In the opinion of the Stewards, SUNNY KING had not established rightful running between SKYVIEW BAR and MASTER POWER, therefore the protest/objection was overruled and weighed-in was declared on the numbers as semaphored by the Judge. B Prebble (PRIME SCORE) said his mount began well and he commenced to follow runners on his inside across to obtain a position with cover. He said after the 1200 Metres he commenced to shift in to race outside HOLI RAVIOLI, however, as he did this PRIME SCORE became unbalanced in its action. He said he immediately shifted PRIME SCORE wider on the track as he felt the horse might have gone amiss. He said he allowed PRIME SCORE to regain its balance and then making the turn at the 800 Metres again shifted PRIME SCORE in to a three wide position behind SILVER SUN. He said because of the horse’s action running to the first turn, it travelled further back than it initially would be. He said on straightening he shifted PRIME SCORE out and immediately placed his mount under pressure, however, it responded only fairly. He said he again became concerned with the action of PRIME SCORE. He said in his opinion the action of PRIME SCORE deteriorated and therefore over the final 200 Metres he eased his mount down. PRIME SCORE was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of PRIME SCORE after the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of PRIME SCORE was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, PRIME SCORE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. MASTER POWER, SKYVIEW BAR and SUNNY KING were sent for sampling.