01/07/2013  Shatin  Race 2

At declaration time, K C Leung was declared as the rider of both BORNFREE and CALIFORNIA GIRL. It was established that K C Leung had a firm commitment to ride BORNFREE. As such, the Stewards permitted W C Marwing to be substituted as the rider of CALIFORNIA GIRL. For this declaration error, Trainer A S Cruz was fined $2,000. WELL FIT proved very difficult to load. Having regard to WELL FIT’s prior history of proving difficult to load, the horse will be required to undergo satisfactorily in an official barrier trial before being allowed to race again. WELL FIT then began awkwardly and then despite being ridden along in the early stages failed to muster speed. DISTINCT COMMANDER and GOLDEN ADDICTION both began awkwardly. Prior to the 400 Metres, WELL FIT got its head on the side, shifted out and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DISTINCT COMMANDER. For some distance after the 400 Metres, CALIFORNIA GIRL, which had been inclined to lay out, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of BEAR ELITE. Then near the 200 Metres, CALIFORNIA GIRL was again steadied away from the heels of BEAR ELITE which shifted in slightly. Over the final 100 Metres, GOLDEN ADDICTION lay in under pressure. Throughout the race, RIDE ON THE FIRE got its head on the side and hung in. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that WELL FIT had lost its left front plate. A veterinary inspection of ALWAYS WONDERFUL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. WELL FIT and GOLDEN ADDICTION were sent for sampling.