15/11/2014  Shatin  Race 2

TRAVEL MASTER was withdrawn on 14.11.14 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen mouth) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter LUCKY BOLE (Apprentice C Y Lui). Before being allowed to race again, TRAVEL MASTER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CASA JUNIOR began awkwardly, shifted in and was awkwardly placed outside the heels of ORIENTAL FANTASIA. BLISS CARTEL and LA COTE DE BLEU, which began awkwardly, were crowded for room shortly after the start between ALLEY-OOP and ISLAND SPRING which shifted in. EVERYONE’S CHOICE began awkwardly. Near the 1100 Metres, EVERYONE’S CHOICE was steadied out away from the heels of TAI PO FORTUNE which shifted in when just clear. As EVERYONE’S CHOICE then attempted to shift out to a one-off position outside TAI PO FORTUNE, EVERYONE’S CHOICE and BLISS CARTEL made contact for some distance as BLISS CARTEL shifted in simultaneously to assume the same position. As the Stewards were of the opinion that in this incident both riders were attempting to obtain a position to the outside of TAI PO FORTUNE and that neither runner had properly established that run prior to the contact between the horses, no further action was taken. Making the turn after the 900 Metres, TAI PO FORTUNE got its head up when proving difficult to settle and awkwardly placed close to the heels of ORIENTAL FANTASIA. Near the 350 Metres, OPTIMIZATION STAR was shifted to the outside of LOTUS LOVE to obtain clear running. When questioned regarding his riding of EVERYONE’S CHOICE after the 600 Metres, N Callan stated that he elected to shift out from behind TAI PO FORTUNE when BLISS CARTEL, which was racing to EVERYONE’S CHOICE outside, came under pressure. He said at this time he wanted EVERYONE’S CHOICE to improve to the outside of TAI PO FORTUNE as that horse seemed to be travelling better than the two leaders. He said as EVERYONE’S CHOICE had momentum up, he elected to continue to ride his mount along whilst shifting to the outside of LUCKY BOLE at the entrance to the Straight. He said whilst this resulted in EVERYONE’S CHOICE having to make a somewhat sustained run, he felt that it was in EVERYONE’S CHOICE’s best interests at that time to gather momentum. He added he had ridden the horse in a similar manner at its last start and it was able to respond well when ridden in this fashion. He said it was over the final 200 Metres that EVERYONE’S CHOICE came under pressure and the manner in which the horse wanted to shift ground over the concluding stages indicated to him that it did not appear to be completely comfortable on today’s surface. After the race, J Moreira reported that ORIENTAL FANTASIA raced most disappointingly as the horse came under pressure at the entrance to the Straight and then did not respond to his riding. A veterinary inspection of ORIENTAL FANTASIA immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. The performance of ORIENTAL FANTASIA, a favourite for today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ORIENTAL FANTASIA will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ORIENTAL FANTASIA, KING ON EARTH and JUN HAO were sent for sampling.