28/01/2009  Shatin  Race 7

After being boxed, TREASURE HUNT kicked out behind and had its right hind leg momentarily caught up. TREASURE HUNT was removed from its stall and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. AMAZING VENTURE was slow into stride. On jumping, THE ONLY KID was crowded for room between BIG WINNER AGAIN which shifted in and BLINK AGAIN which shifted out after being bumped by SEA PRINCE. YOUNG ELITE was slow into stride. From a wide barrier, VISIONARIO was taken back in the early stages. When the tempo of the race steadied approaching the 900 Metres, a number of runners were severely inconvenienced, the worst sufferers being SUPER FIGHTER which commenced to over-race, shifted out and bumped with YOUNG ELITE which shifted in while proving difficult to settle. As a consequence, YOUNG ELITE was hampered and carried out, causing BLINK AGAIN and BIG WINNER AGAIN to be hampered. Commencing to make the turn at the 800 Metres, DIAMOND PRINCE was steadied away from the heels of CRYSTAL which while proving difficult to settle to allow SPEEDY (Apprentice K C Leung) to cross was crowded for room inside that horse which shifted in slightly. The Stewards, having in mind Apprentice Leung’s relative inexperience, severely reprimanded him and told him the manner in which he endeavoured to steady the tempo of the race approaching the turn at the 800 Metres while shifting in was not acceptable. He was further told should he steady the tempo of a race in similar circumstances in the future, action may be taken against him. Approaching the turn at the 800 Metres, STAR LEGEND, which was proving very difficult to settle, was shifted out and allowed to stride forward into the lead. Also approaching the turn at the 800 Metres, AMAZING VENTURE commenced to over-race due to the tempo of the race and was steadied away from the heels of SUPER FIGHTER. At the 700 Metres, YOUNG ELITE was left racing without cover. After the 600 Metres, DIAMOND PRINCE, which was endeavouring to improve into a narrow run, was steadied when crowded for room between AMAZING VENTURE and CRYSTAL which was steadied away from the heels of SPEEDY. After the 500 Metres, VISIONARIO was steadied away from the heels of THE ONLY KID. From on straightening until near the 200 Metres, SPEEDY was steadied when held up and unable to improve between STAR LEGEND and SEA PRINCE. After the 200 Metres, SPEEDY was checked and shifted out when disappointed for running between STAR LEGEND and SEA PRINCE. At the 50 Metres, SPEEDY, which was inclined to hang in, was again steadied away from the heels of SEA PRINCE. Because of these incidents, SPEEDY was not tested. At the 100 Metres, SUPER FIGHTER was steadied away from the heels of VISIONARIO. In the Straight, BIG WINNER AGAIN hung in and proved difficult to ride and YOUNG ELITE also hung in. For the major part of the race, DANZULU travelled wide and without cover. B Doyle (SUPER FIGHTER) said he had been instructed to ride his mount in a prominent position as it was believed in today’s field on the B+2 course it would be difficult for the horse to make ground from well back. YOUNG ELITE and THE ONLY KID were sent for sampling. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that BLINK AGAIN had returned making an abnormal breathing noise.