01/07/2011  Shatin  Race 4

METREVELLI and ABLE MAGIC were slow to begin. SHIBALA began awkwardly and then was slow to muster speed and travelled wide and without cover for the majority of the race. Approaching the 1000 Metres, ABLE MAGIC got its head up and proved difficult to settle when awkwardly placed behind POTENTIAL. When being steadied to allow ASSURE to cross after the 900 Metres, PERPETUAL KINGDOM proved very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions when awkwardly placed close to the heels of ASSURE. FASTALOT, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of PERPETUAL KINGDOM approaching the 800 Metres and shifted out, taking MR AWARD wider. After this, MR AWARD travelled wide and without cover for the remainder of the race. WASABISABI, which was also following PERPETUAL KINGDOM, was steadied when awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse. Near the 650 Metres, WASABISABI was again steadied away from the heels of PERPETUAL KINGDOM which continued to over-race behind ASSURE. For some distance after the 700 Metres, ABLE MAGIC raced ungenerously when travelling close to the heels of POTENTIAL. Near the 50 Metres, the whip of P Strydom (SUPER GENERAL) was knocked from his grasp by the whip of T Angland (FASTALOT). After the race, Z Purton reported that PERPETUAL KINGDOM became unbalanced in its action approaching the 100 Metres and because of this he did not ride the horse out right to the finish. A veterinary inspection of PERPETUAL KINGDOM after the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, B Prebble stated that after being slow to begin, SILVER DRAGON, which was having its first race start today, got its head on the side and shifted out making the first turn. He said after this SILVER DRAGON continued to lay out and for this reason near the 700 Metres he changed his whip from his right hand into his left hand. He said rounding the Home Turn SILVER DRAGON continued to race with its head on the side and when placed under pressure in the Straight lay out. He added he used the whip on SILVER DRAGON in the early part of the Straight until after the 150 Metres, however, as he felt that SILVER DRAGON’s run was ending, he put the whip away and rode the horse out vigorously hands and heels to the end of the race. B Prebble was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, he should ensure that he places his mounts under sufficient pressure in the Straight so as to leave no room for query. After the race, W C Marwing reported that POTENTIAL had coughed on pulling up. The Veterinary Officer reported that an endoscopic examination of POTENTIAL following the race showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea and that SHOWTIME had lost its left front plate. Before being allowed to race again, POTENTIAL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HAPPY YEAH YEAH and POTENTIAL were sent for sampling.