23/01/2011  Shatin  Race 10

NUGGET WARRIOR was withdrawn on 21.1.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter ST FEVRE (W C Marwing). Before being allowed to race again, NUGGET WARRIOR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FLYING BLUE was slow to begin and shortly after the start was crowded for room between BERIO and HAPPY REUNION which jumped inwards after also being slow to begin. Near the 1200 Metres, CAPTAIN SWEET got its head up and proved difficult to settle when being steadied. Passing the 1100 Metres, BLAZING SADDLES proved difficult to settle and shifted out when being checked away from the heels of ST FEVRE. Making the first turn near the 800 Metres, FLYING BLUE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of CAPTAIN SWEET. When questioned, M Chadwick (PENGLAI XIANZI) advised that he had been instructed to obtain a forward position on the horse but to attempt to obtain cover if possible from barrier 14. He said PENGLAI XIANZI began well, he commenced to shift across with runners to obtain a position closer to the fence and with a view to obtaining cover if possible. He added however that passing the 1200 Metres PENGLAI XIANZI was left racing wide and as it was not possible for him to obtain cover, he allowed the horse to shift across to race outside HUSSLER. He said when he did this, HUSSLER was steadied by its rider and rather than fight against PENGLAI XIANZI, he allowed the horse to stride forward into the lead. He said PENGLAI XIANZI is well-known to him and in the past the horse has proved difficult to settle when being restrained and has got its head up and raced ungenerously on occasions. He said for this reason, after obtaining the lead near the 900 Metres, he allowed the horse to continue to stride along rather than restrain it and have it become unbalanced. He said he was aware that he had opened up a margin over the remainder of the field and was running at a faster tempo than normal, however, as the horse was travelling well, he elected to continue to allow it to stride freely. He added since its most recent run, the horse had barrier trialed at Sha Tin on 1 January 2011 and it had been successful in that barrier trial when being allowed to stride along in front. He said that on this occasion he felt it was best in these circumstances not to restrain PENGLAI XIANZI and that, in his opinion, the horse had performed well to finish third when ridden in this manner. M Chadwick was advised that whilst PENGLAI XIANZI had finished third in the race, he nonetheless should be mindful of the tempo he sets on horses and he must make every endeavour to rate his horses in front in such a manner that they are able to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY REUNION after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. A veterinary inspection of BLAZING SADDLES after the race did not show any significant findings. CAPTAIN SWEET and FLYING BLUE were sent for sampling.