20/12/2008  Shatin  Race 4

HAPPY ELITE, Standby Declared Starter, was withdrawn on 19.12.08 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, HAPPY ELITE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SUPREME DRAGON was difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, SUPREME DRAGON will have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. AMAZING JOURNEY began awkwardly and bumped the outside gate of its stall, causing D Whyte, its rider, to become unbalanced. AMAZING ME blundered at the start and lost ground. MYSTERIOUS was slow to begin. LUCKY DRAGON was slow to begin, then throughout the race travelled wide and without cover and after the 1200 Metres got its head up when being steadied. Near the 1500 Metres, FIRST BABY, which was being taken back, was steadied when awkwardly placed between MYSTERIOUS and VILLAGE KID. At the 1200 Metres, MYSTERIOUS, which had been ridden along to improve its position, was steadied and shifted out away from the heels of VILLAGE KID which at this time was steadied to obtain a position with cover. After this, MYSTERIOUS travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground and finished distanced. The performance of MYSTERIOUS was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MYSTERIOUS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the 800 Metres, VIENTO commenced to give ground. Near the 700 Metres, SUPREME DRAGON was steadied away from the heels of OSCAR PRINCE which was steadied to avoid the heels of VIENTO. For some distance after this, OSCAR PRINCE continued to be awkwardly placed close to the heels of VIENTO. On straightening, SUPREME DRAGON was hampered and carried in by MYSTERIOUS which shifted to the inside of VILLAGE KID as that horse shifted out. No action was taken. When questioned regarding the improved performance of JOHNSON, Trainer J Moore explained the intention had been to have the horse ridden in a forward position in its recent starts, however, it had failed to show sufficient pace to travel where it was intended. He said because of this he decided to replace the side winkers which JOHNSON had been wearing with blinkers and also to engage a claiming rider, K T Yeung, to replace the stable rider, D Beadman to gain weight advantage. He said he had instructed K T Yeung to give JOHNSON a liven up behind the barriers and then to ride the horse vigorously in the early stages in an endeavour to have the horse lead if possible on a track which appeared to be suiting leaders. He said in his opinion the change in gear, the weight allowance and the manner today’s track was racing explained the improved performance of JOHNSON. VIENTO, VILLAGE KID and REAL REJOICING were sent for an official veterinary inspection. After the race, VIENTO was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said the horse had bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of VILLAGE KID and REAL REJOICING after the race did not show any significant findings. JOHNSON and AMAZING JOURNEY were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that SUPREME DRAGON had lost its left front plate.