09/10/2011  Shatin  Race 10

SIR EAGLES was withdrawn on 8.10.11 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right front foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter LUCKY BRAVO (Apprentice M L Yeung). Before being allowed to race again, SIR EAGLES will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CLEARLY SILVER and GIFT IS GIFT were slow to begin. From the outside barrier, CAPTAIN SWEET was taken across behind runners shortly after the start. After the 1000 Metres, GOLDEN BAUHINIA raced tight inside EAGLE REGIMENT which, after itself initially racing tight inside BULLISH CHAMPION, got its head on the side and shifted in away from that horse. A short distance later, GOLDEN BAUHINIA (C W Wong) shifted in slightly, resulting in PRETTY ONE being taken across the running of LUCKY BRAVO, causing LUCKY BRAVO to be checked and PRETTY ONE to be hampered and lose ground. In this incident, CLEARLY SILVER was steadied away from the heels of PRETTY ONE. C W Wong was reprimanded and advised that, whilst GOLDEN BAUHINIA had initially been pressured by EAGLE REGIMENT, he should have attempted to shift out to relieve the tightening to PRETTY ONE and LUCKY BRAVO when the opportunity existed. Near the 850 Metres, GOLDEN BAUHINIA was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FIRST IN COMMAND. Near the 300 Metres, LUCKY BRAVO was checked when momentarily crowded for room between EAGLE REGIMENT and CAPTAIN SWEET which, when taking a narrow run between LUCKY BRAVO and PRETTY ONE, shifted in and away from PRETTY ONE after that horse initially shifted in of its own accord. No further action was taken. Passing the 300 Metres, BRIGHTEXPECTATIONS got its head on the side, shifted in and hampered CLEARLY SILVER. KING MOSSMAN got its head on the side and hung out over the final 200 Metres. In the Straight, GIFT IS GIFT got its head on the side and hung in. Throughout the race, BULLISH CHAMPION and BRIGHTEXPECTATIONS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding his riding of PERFECT GEAR in the Straight, C K Tong stated that he commenced to ride PERFECT GEAR vigorously hands and heels passing the 500 Metres and shifted the horse to the outside of runners. He said PERFECT GEAR responded well to his riding, he hit the horse in the backhand manner passing the 250 Metres, however, as PERFECT GEAR was continuing to close off the race strongly, he did not continue to hit the horse with the whip, rather he rode it out vigorously hands and heels to the end of the race. C K Tong was severely reprimanded and advised that his riding of PERFECT GEAR in the Straight had come under notice and that in future he should ride his mounts in such a manner so as to leave no room for query. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of EAGLE REGIMENT, B Prebble stated that his mount appeared to him to resent racing in restricted room between BULLISH CHAMPION and GOLDEN BAUHINIA after the 1000 Metres. He said after this EAGLE REGIMENT became unbalanced in its action and did not travel comfortably. He said prior to the Home Turn EAGLE REGIMENT came under pressure and did not feel to him to be stretching out as he thought it should. He added that near the 300 Metres EAGLE REGIMENT became further unbalanced in its action when LUCKY BRAVO was taken across the heels of EAGLE REGIMENT and after this EAGLE REGIMENT continued to give ground noticeably. He said although EAGLE REGIMENT was attempting 1200 Metres for the first time today, the distance of today’s race was not an issue. He added that whilst EAGLE REGIMENT had been found to have lost its left front plate, he believed this occurred after the finish and was not relevant to the horse’s disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of EAGLE REGIMENT after the race did not show any significant findings. LONGWAH SUPREME and KING MOSSMAN were sent for sampling.