20/02/2011  Shatin  Race 2

At declaration time, O Doleuze was declared as the rider of both KING ON EARTH and BEAR ELITE. It was established that O Doleuze had a firm commitment to ride BEAR ELITE. As such, the Stewards permitted H W Lai to be substituted as the rider of KING ON EARTH. For this declaration error, Trainer T W Leung was fined $2,000. BEAR ELITE was withdrawn on 19.2.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter WINNING SCHOLAR (W C Marwing). Before being allowed to race again, BEAR ELITE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On arrival at the Start, the tongue tie worn by FORTUNE GENERAL was refitted. FULL HOUSE was slow to begin. MOUNT SURPLUS was crowded for room at the start between FORTUNE GENERAL and WINNING SCHOLAR which got its head on the side and shifted out. Near the 700 Metres, POLYMER POWER got its head up when being checked away from the heels of HOT PEPPER which itself was steadied away from the heels of THE PRINCE. At the 400 Metres, HOT PEPPER was checked when held up behind GUAN DAO. Passing the 350 Metres, MISTER HORSE was held up for clear running and then raced tight between WINNING SCHOLAR and VICTORY GENERAL when obtaining a narrow run between those horses. Over the concluding stages, MISTER HORSE shifted out abruptly under pressure. In the Straight, VICTORY GENERAL got its head on the side and lay out. When questioned, M Chadwick (ALL VICTORY) stated that his mount was slow to muster speed in the early stages despite him riding it along. He said making the turn near the 800 Metres ALL VICTORY commenced to lay out and stumbled badly. He said at this time he heard a loud noise which, when occurring at the same time that the horse stumbled badly, gave him the impression that ALL VICTORY had gone amiss. He said for some distance after this ALL VICTORY was unbalanced in its action and he looked around on a number of occasions to ascertain whether the horse had in fact broken down. He added that whilst he was not able to locate any signs of distress associated with ALL VICTORY at this time, he remained concerned that the horse had gone amiss and for this reason he did not ride it along for the remainder of the race. The evidence supplied by Jockey Chadwick in respect of his mount stumbling and the noise associated with this incident was confirmed by the Steward in the vicinity of this incident. A veterinary inspection of ALL VICTORY immediately after the race did not show any significant findings. Prior to racing again, ALL VICTORY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial around a bend. Following the race, track staff inspected the area where ALL VICTORY stumbled and a noticeable divot mark was observed. After making some remedial measures prior to the running of Race 4, it was decided that the track surface between the 900 Metres and the Home Turn should be verti-drained following the running of Race 4 and prior to the next turf race over this section of the track (Race 7). A veterinary inspection of WINNING SCHOLAR after the race did not show any significant findings other than the horse had lost its left front plate. THE PRINCE and MISTER HORSE were sent for sampling. <21/2/2011 Additional Veterinary Report> ALL VICTORY, which stumbled badly making the turn near the 800 Metres, was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said at that time there were no significant findings. ALL VICTORY was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer A S Cruz this morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, ALL VICTORY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As previously advised, ALL VICTORY will also be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial around a bend.