30/10/2011  Shatin  Race 3

At declaration time, O Doleuze was declared as the rider of both HAPPY FOREVER and LUCKY SUPREME. It was established that O Doleuze had a firm commitment to ride HAPPY FOREVER. As such, the Stewards permitted M Chadwick to be substituted as the rider of LUCKY SUPREME. After hearing the explanations of both O Doleuze and Mr A T Millard, trainer of LUCKY SUPREME, the Stewards were satisfied that the error had been as a result of a reasonable breakdown in communication and therefore no further action was taken. The start was considerably delayed due to FASTALOT proving very difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, FASTALOT will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. ENJOY THE FUN was slow to begin. From wide barriers, POTENTIAL and SHOWTIME were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. Rounding the Home Turn, WINNER SMART raced tight between HAPPY FOREVER and ENJOY THE FUN which shifted out to improve. Throughout the race, FASTALOT travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, K C Leung (WASABISABI) advised that he had been instructed to ride the horse in a similar manner as to last start when it was successful. He said however that today WASABISABI became fractious just prior to the start being effected and began awkwardly. He said this resulted in WASABISABI being further back in the field in the early stages than had been intended. He said shortly after the start he rode his mount along to make up lost ground and WASABISABI was able to obtain a position just worse than midfield. When questioned, Y T Cheng (KING ON EARTH) stated that he had been instructed, from the inside barrier, to obtain a position behind the leaders if possible. He said it was explained to him and he had noted that KING ON EARTH had performed well previously when ridden behind the leaders from an inside barrier over the same course and distance. He said that in accordance with his instructions, he was positive on KING ON EARTH in the early stages and after obtaining a forward position attempted to steady the tempo to allow either FASTALOT or BEST ELEVEN to cross KING ON EARTH. He said however neither of those horses were ridden to obtain the lead and when racing without cover, KING ON EARTH, with the blinkers reapplied today, commenced to travel strongly after the 1000 Metres and he was not able to steady the tempo on EARTH ON EARTH. He said because of the manner in which KING ON EARTH was racing, the tempo of the race was quicker than what he had hoped after being unable to obtain a position with cover. A veterinary inspection of ABLE MAGIC after the race revealed that the horse was lame in the right front leg, however, it was not able to be scoped. Before being allowed to race again, ABLE MAGIC will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of FASTALOT after the race did not show any significant findings. BEST ELEVEN and HAPPY FOREVER were sent for sampling.