18/03/2012  Shatin  Race 5

THEHEROINMYHEART was withdrawn on 17.3.12 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (infection right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter RAINBOW SEEKER (M Du Plessis). Before being allowed to race again, THEHEROINMYHEART will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Whilst in the saddling stalls, NICHOLSON had its left front plate refitted. NICHOLSON was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. MEGA POSH was slow to begin. DRAGON CHOICE shifted out at the start, resulting in THE FAST LANE and OUR DYNASTY being hampered. At the entrance to the Straight, GRAND ELITE was badly held up for clear running and after the 350 Metres was shifted to the inside of NICHOLSON to improve its position. Passing the 350 Metres, MEGA CHAMPION was steadied when crowded for room between SOLAR GREAT which shifted in and MEGA POSH which got its head on the side and shifted out abruptly. MEGA CHAMPION then had difficulty obtaining clear running until after the 200 Metres. Near the 150 Metres, RAINBOW SEEKER momentarily raced tight inside SPECTACULAR AWARD which shifted in slightly. In the Straight, OUR DYNASTY hung in and proved difficult to ride. For the majority of the race, SHINING TREASURES travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Apprentice K C Ng stated that he had been instructed to obtain a forward position on MERIDIAN TREASURE from the outside barrier. He said for some distance along the Back Straight he had to ride MERIDIAN TREASURE along to cross runners to his inside. He said after the 900 Metres he was aware of LUCKY NISTELROOY being positioned to his inside and he looked to his inside on a number of occasions to establish whether it was available to him to cross that horse. He said although it appeared to him that LUCKY NISTELROOY was not being ridden along to maintain its position to the inside of MERIDIAN TREASURE, he felt that he would have had to continue to make some use of the horse to be sufficiently clear of LUCKY NISTELROOY to race on the fence. He said due to the amount of use he had to make of MERIDIAN TREASURE in the early stages, he elected not to continue riding forward but rather remained racing one horse off the fence outside LUCKY NISTELROOY. A veterinary inspection of SOLAR GREAT and MEGA POSH after the race did not show any significant findings. THE FAST LANE and GIANTS SERAPIS were sent for sampling.