10/07/2011  Shatin  Race 2

GLENEALY VIKING was withdrawn on 7.7.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter DANEWIN TIGER. Before being allowed to race again, GLENEALY VIKING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SECRET OF WINNING began very awkwardly, blundered and lost ground. ELECTRONIC MOTION was crowded for room at the start between MING HOI GLORY and TURIN CHAMPION, both of which shifted ground. In this incident, MING HOI GLORY was bumped on the hindquarters by ELECTRONIC MOTION and became unbalanced. From a wide barrier, SHANGHAI PIONEER was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Making the turn near the 850 Metres, MING HOI GLORY, which had been ridden along to obtain a forward position, was steadied away from the heels of NOVEL START which shifted in. Passing the 850 Metres, EN MASSE was steadied when racing in restricted room between DANEWIN TIGER and ELUSIVE PRINCE. After the 400 Metres, DANEWIN TIGER was shifted to the inside of DIVINITY POWER when disappointed for running to the outside of that horse. Near the 200 Metres, DIVINITY POWER shifted out under pressure, resulting in ELUSIVE PRINCE being inconvenienced. Over the final 200 Metres, ELUSIVE PRINCE got its head on the side and hung in. Throughout the race, MY MEMORY travelled wide and without cover. The performance of ELECTRONIC MOTION, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ELECTRONIC MOTION will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, W M Lai stated that he had been instructed to ride EKRAAR EMPEROR more quietly than it had been at its recent starts. He said it was felt that if EKRAAR EMPEROR could be ridden more conservatively in the early stages, the horse would then be able to finish off its race better than it had been. He explained that although EKRAAR EMPEROR began well, he allowed that horse to drift back in the early stages and obtain a position behind the eventual winner, DANEWIN TIGER. He said EKRAAR EMPEROR travelled well throughout the race and when placed under pressure in the early part of the Straight responded well to his riding. He added near the 300 Metres EKRAAR EMPEROR was momentarily steadied away from the heels of the tiring TURIN CHAMPION and after this he commenced to use the whip on the horse. He said when being ridden out EKRAAR EMPEROR got its head on the side and hung out. He added EKRAAR EMPEROR hung out more noticeably over the final 100 Metres and proved difficult to ride out. He said for this reason he refrained from continuing to use the whip on EKRAAR EMPEROR. He said despite the manner in which EKRAAR EMPEROR was racing, it still managed to finish off the race well. Mr B K Ng, the trainer of EKRAAR EMPEROR, stated that whilst he had not instructed W M Lai to obtain any particular position in the race, he did ask him to obtain cover on the horse if possible. He said he did not want EKRAAR EMPEROR ridden along in the early stages to obtain a forward position as he believed that the horse only has a 300 Metre sprint and he did not want use being made of the horse in the early stages which would then result in it not being able to finish off the race. He added after viewing the race, he felt that EKRAAR EMPEROR’s interests would have been better served by being in a position obtained by DANEWIN TIGER rather than EKRAAR EMPEROR having to follow that horse. W M Lai was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, he should wherever possible ensure that horses ridden by him do not get too far out of their ground and are not left with too much to do. Mr Ng was advised to ensure that he properly instructs riders of horses trained by him as to the manner in which he wishes those horses to be ridden. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that SECRET OF WINNING had lost its left front plate and had sustained a cut to the inside of the left front heel. A veterinary inspection of MING HOI GLORY after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucopus in the horse's trachea. A veterinary inspection of ELUSIVE PRINCE after the race did not show any significant findings. DANEWIN TIGER and DIVINITY POWER were sent for sampling.