19/02/2012  Shatin  Race 8

PACKING TYCOON began awkwardly. BEAUTY TOUCH and CHEF bumped at the start. DOMINANT was slow to begin and then shortly after the start was steadied away from the heels of CHEERS JOY which shifted out after being bumped by LIBERATOR. From wide barriers, SWEET ORANGE and HORACE’S EMPIRE were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. After the 1200 Metres, LIBERATOR was left racing wide and without cover and then approaching the 700 Metres was taken wider again by CAPTAIN SWEET which was taken out by CHEERS JOY which shifted to the outside of PACKING TYCOON. Approaching the 800 Metres, FAY FAY proved very difficult to settle and was severely checked away from the heels of CHEF. SMART GIANT and DOMINANT, which were following, were badly hampered in consequence. After this, FAY FAY continued to prove difficult to settle and near the 750 Metres was checked away from the heels of ZAIDAN. When FAY FAY was checked away from the heels of ZAIDAN, it shifted out, resulting in DAN EXCEL being taken wider. DOMINANT, which was following, was again hampered in consequence. DOMINANT had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight and near the 350 Metres became unbalanced when shifted out across the heels of CHEERS JOY which commenced to give ground. Near the 400 Metres, FAY FAY and DAN EXCEL bumped. In the Straight, SMART GIANT hung in. After the race, J Lloyd reported that SMART GIANT coughed on a number of occasions on pulling up. A veterinary inspection of SMART GIANT after the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SMART GIANT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. The performance of CHEERS JOY, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, CHEERS JOY 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 C Marwing stated that passing the 600 Metres he positioned SWEET ORANGE behind HORACE’S EMPIRE with a view to shifting to the outside of that horse at the entrance to the Straight. He said however that near the 500 Metres SWEET ORANGE got its head on the side and lay in which positioned SWEET ORANGE to the inside of the heels of HORACE’S EMPIRE. He said rounding the Home Turn he considered improving inside HORACE’S EMPIRE to take advantage of a run should it develop between FAY FAY and SMART GIANT which was some lengths ahead of him at that time. He added however that after the 400 Metres SMART GIANT shifted out to race directly to the inside of FAY FAY and for this reason he immediately shifted SWEET ORANGE to the outside of HORACE’S EMPIRE to make its finishing run. A veterinary inspection of CAPTAIN SWEET after the race did not show any significant findings. FAY FAY, ZAIDAN and SWEET ORANGE were sent for sampling.