15/01/2012  Shatin  Race 10

HELENE WITTY was slow to begin. SAPELLI and FREE JUDGEMENT made heavy contact shortly after the start. Passing the 1500 Metres, FREE JUDGEMENT got is head up and proved difficult to settle after being crowded for room between DRAGON FIGHTER and VOILE ROUGE which was taken in by HELENE SPIRIT (Z Purton). Z Purton was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure that he leaves sufficient racing room for runners to his inside in future. After the 900 Metres, TURF EXPRESS was left racing wide and without cover. The performance of IMPERIAL ROME, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, IMPERIAL ROME will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. C K Tong explained that prior to the Home Turn he rode FLYING SUPREME along in an endeavour to maintain its position outside of SEMOS. He said rounding the Home Turn FLYING SUPREME was taken wider by SEMOS which itself was taken wider by SAPELLI. He said SEMOS and SAPELLI then quickened and despite him riding FLYING SUPREME along, his mount did not show the same turn of foot as those horses. He added he placed FLYING SUPREME under pressure, however, it was not only until after the 300 Metres that the horse commenced to respond to his riding. He said after this FLYING SUPREME finished off the race strongly. After the race, D Whyte explained that DRAGON FIGHTER was in contention to finish in the placings until the final 100 Metres, however, did not finish off the race over the concluding stages as he thought it would. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FREE JUDGEMENT, M Guyon stated that after being hampered passing the 1500 Metres FREE JUDGEMENT came on and off the bridle throughout the race. He said he placed FREE JUDGEMENT under considerable pressure prior to the Home Turn to maintain its position, however, despite being ridden along FREE JUDGEMENT was most disappointing in the manner in which it weakened out of the race in the Straight. He did say that he had ridden the horse in a barrier trial conducted at Happy Valley in the lead up to today’s race and, in his opinion, this trial was good. He added he was not able to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of FREE JUDGEMENT. A veterinary inspection of DRAGON FIGHTER and FREE JUDGEMENT after the race did not show any significant findings. DRAGON FIGHTER, BUSINESS AS USUAL and TURF EXPRESS were sent for sampling. <16/1/2012 Additional Veterinary Report>The Clinical Veterinary Surgeon reported that HELENE WITTY was lame in the left front leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, HELENE WITTY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.