04/01/2009  Shatin  Race 4

TATTENHALL DELIGHT, Standby Declared Starter, was withdrawn on 3.1.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore). Before being allowed to race again, TATTENHALL DELIGHT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being boxed, METRO RIDER became fractious, reared, hit its head on the overhead bar and flipped over. METRO RIDER was removed from its stall and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, the Stewards ordered the withdrawal of METRO RIDER. Before being allowed to race again, METRO RIDER 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 METRO RIDER flipped over, SHAXI BABY became fractious, endeavoured to turn around in its stall and became wedged. SHAXI BABY was removed from its stall and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said the horse had sustained abrasions to its forehead and in his opinion was not suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, SHAXI BABY will have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. TREASURABLE, which had been placed in the starting stall adjacent to the stall occupied by METRO RIDER, was removed from its stall and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. From the outside barrier, TOUT VA BIEN was taken back in the early stages. FULL BLESSINGS and LEAD THE PROSPECTS were slow to begin. In the middle stages, MASSIVE STAR hung out. Near the 250 Metres, Apprentice T H So (MASTER TOWER) when pulling his whip extended his right arm away his body which came into contact with the body of Apprentice K C Leung (TREASURABLE) which was shifting out to obtain clear running. The Stewards, having in mind Apprentice So’s inexperience in that this was his third race ride in Hong Kong, decided it was appropriate he be severely reprimanded and told in future he must refrain from extending his arms away from his body which may result in contact being made with another rider. In the Straight, KEEN TAKER hung in and at the 100 Metres was steadied to avoid the heels of TOUT VA BIEN (W C Marwing) which when shifting to the outside of JADE DANCER to obtain clear running was carried wider by that horse which when giving ground shifted out slightly. In the circumstances, W C Marwing was advised to exercise care. At the 100 Metres, MASSIVE STAR was steadied away from the heels of FULL BLESSINGS. When questioned regarding his riding approaching the 700 Metres, Apprentice M Chadwick (FULL BLESSINGS) said after his mount began only fairly, he rode along to improve his position and was travelling towards the inside of COSMO SUCCESSOR. He said approaching the turn at the 700 Metres it appeared to him that COSMO SUCCESSOR was intent on shifting to the rail and he felt he would have been required to make further use of FULL BLESSINGS to maintain its position inside that runner. He said he elected to steady his mount and have it travel comfortably rather than ride along and hold its position at this time. He said he felt this was in the best interest of his mount. He said when he did this COSMO SUCCESSOR shifted to the rail in front of him. Apprentice Chadwick was told his explanation would be reported, however, where circumstances permit he should maintain his position. When questioned, Apprentice K C Leung said he had been instructed to follow SHAXI BABY in the run and it was anticipated this would have TREASURABLE travel in a midfield position with cover. He said TREASURABLE began best, he did not ride it along in the early stages and immediately endeavoured to find a position in midfield with cover. He said when a number of runners improved to his inside prior to the 1000 Metres, he allowed TREASURABLE to come back further in the hope of obtaining a position behind MASSIVE STAR, however, he was not able to do so and continued to be wide and without cover. He said because of this approaching the turn at the 700 Metres he elected to take TREASURABLE back further to obtain cover and race at the rear. He said in the Straight TREASURABLE closed the race off only fairly. Mr P O’Sullivan, trainer of TREASURABLE, confirmed the riding instructions issued and said the horse in its recent starts had not been showing good gate speed and therefore he did not believe it would be able to obtain a forward position. Both Mr O’Sullivan and Apprentice Leung conceded after reviewing the video of the race that Apprentice Leung had erred in taking TREASURABLE back to a position at the rear given the manner in which the horse began. Having in mind his inexperience, Apprentice Leung was told in future he should not set his mounts too great a task and he must maintain an open mind to riding his mounts in the manner best suited to the way the races are being run. TREASURABLE and MASSIVE STAR were sent for an official veterinary inspection. After the race, TREASURABLE was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. A veterinary inspection of MASSIVE STAR after the race did not show any significant findings. FULL BLESSINGS, TOUT VA BIEN and COSMO SUCCESSOR were sent for sampling.