18/01/2009  Shatin  Race 5

SOARING RIVER was withdrawn on 17.1.09 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter LUCKY RED (W M Lai). Before being allowed to race again, SOARING RIVER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. During the preliminary, O Doleuze was dislodged from ACHILLES OF TROY which then proceeded riderless to the end of the 1800 Metre chute prior to being recaptured. ACHILLES OF TROY was then reluctant to proceed to the Start which resulted in a delay. After arriving at the Start, ACHILLES OF TROY was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. O Doleuze was uninjured. Trainer C Fownes was told a warning will be placed on ACHILLES OF TROY in relation to its pre-race behaviour and should the horse perform similarly in the future, further action may be taken against it. After being boxed, NOBLE DE BEST became very fractious. Before being allowed to race again, NOBLE DE BEST will have to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. When the gates opened, ROCKET POWER lifted its front feet off the ground and was then taken across behind runners. On jumping, BOOMING CITY blundered. ZAM ZAMMAH was a little slow to begin and shortly afterwards lost further ground when crowded for room between HORSE WIN WIN and GO DAN GO which shifted out. PICKETT began awkwardly and bumped the outside gate of its stall, causing the left foot of Apprentice T H So, its rider, to be dislodged from the stirrup. Apprentice So regained the use of this stirrup shortly after the start. Near the 1000 Metres, ZAM ZAMMAH was carried wider by GO DAN GO which was proving difficult to settle and shifted out. After this, GO DAN GO continued to prove difficult to settle, near the 900 Metres was bumped by ZAM ZAMMAH which got its head on the side and shifted in away from NAMJONG HUNTER after initially being carried in by that runner which also got its head on the side and shifted ground when being steadied away from the heels of BOOMING CITY which shifted in when barely clear. Making the turn at the 800 Metres, GALACTIC TACTIC was checked when crowded for room inside GO DAN GO which got its head on the side and shifted in despite the efforts of its rider after being bumped by ZAM ZAMMAH which was racing greenly and shifted ground. In the circumstances, no action was taken. Shortly after this, ZAM ZAMMAH, which continued to race greenly, was checked to avoid the heels of BOOMING CITY. When ZAM ZAMMAH checked, it shifted out, resulting in NAMJONG HUNTER being carried wider. Near the 700 Metres, GO DAN GO, which had improved towards the inside of the heels of ACHILLES OF TROY where there was insufficient room, was checked. Making the Home Turn, WIND KNIGHT hung out. Prior to straightening, NAMJONG HUNTER was steadied away from the heels of BOOMING CITY which was steadied and shifted out away from the heels of HAPPY ZERO which was carried out by PICKETT (Apprentice T H So) which shifted to the outside of LUCKY RED to go forward. ZAM ZAMMAH, which was following, was steadied in consequence. Apprentice So was told to exercise care when shifting ground. After the 50 Metres, FINN MACCOOL (D Whyte) commenced to shift in and raced tight outside BOOMING CITY. Because of this, D Whyte stopped riding and straightened his mount. In the Straight, HORSE WIN WIN hung in. Throughout the race, NAMJONG HUNTER travelled wide and without cover. Trainer C Fownes said he had instructed O Doleuze to ride the horse in a more forward position than in its recent starts. He said it was felt ACHILLES OF TROY which had begun well at its most recent start would be able to obtain a position in front of midfield with cover if it began in a similar manner today. He said ACHILLES OF TROY had shown itself to perform well when ridden quietly at its most recent start and in his opinion the horse had matured into a versatile type and in future where it will be ridden in its races will depend on the composition of the field and the barrier draw. NAMJONG HUNTER was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of NAMJONG HUNTER after the race did not show any significant findings. HAPPY ZERO and ACHILLES OF TROY were sent for sampling.