09/06/2012  Shatin  Race 7

MEGA got its head up at the start. PO CHING KING blundered at the start, shifted in and then made contact with FASTPLUS HERO which shifted out slightly. STREET CAT and ALPHA GLORY were slow to begin. Shortly after the start, FLYING TOGETHER was steadied away from the heels of HAPPY YEAH YEAH which shifted out after making contact with IMPECCABLE. After the 400 Metres, HAPPY YEAH YEAH was crowded for room outside PO CHING KING which shifted out despite the efforts of its rider, M Chadwick. When questioned regarding the improved performance of STREET CAT, Trainer T K Ng stated that today’s race was the horse’s fourth start after having over a year off from racing due to a significant leg injury. He said the horse had lost its action when required to race around turns at its initial starts this preparation and for this reason at its last start he decided to bring the horse back in distance to the Straight course 1000 Metres at Sha Tin. He added that although the horse finished last in this race, it finished closer to the winner than it had done at its previous two starts back from injury. He said because of the manner in which the horse raced at its most recent start, he was reluctant to return the horse to racing over distances involving a turn, rather he felt it would be better to continue racing over the 1000 Metres at Sha Tin in order to assist the horse with its confidence. He added STREET CAT is a day to day racing proposition because of its issues in the past with injury, however, he was of the belief that the horse’s last start represented an improved run on its first two runs this time in. He did also state it would be expected, after having such a prolonged period away from racing, that STREET CAT would improve with racing. He said nonetheless that STREET CAT’s win today had not been expected by the stable. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY YEAH YEAH after the race did not show any significant findings. STREET CAT and ZEZAO were sent for sampling.