09/06/2012  Shatin  Race 9

After being loaded, WINNING APEX became fractious and broke open the front gate of its stall. WINNING APEX was quickly restrained, returned to the Start and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said, in his opinion, it was suitable to race. Also after being loaded, WINNING INSTINCT became fractious and momentarily sat down. WINNING INSTINCT was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, WINNING APEX and WINNING INSTINCT will both be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. Making the turn near the 850 Metres, ENDURING commenced to over race and for some distance had to be continually checked away from the heels of HAPPY HA HA. FINN MACCOOL, which was following, was hampered in consequence. Passing the 800 Metres, WINNING APEX was steadied away from the heels of POLYMER WIN. CLASSIC JEWELLERY, which was following, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WINNING APEX and shifted out in consequence. Near the 200 Metres, WINNING APEX got its head on the side and shifted in towards the heels of HAPPY HA HA which was shifting out slightly at this time. Throughout the race, STEP FASTER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, T Angland stated that due to the tempo of the race slowing appreciably near the 800 Metres, CLASSIC JEWELLERY was not able to maintain its position behind WINNING APEX after becoming awkward on the heels of that horse. He said this resulted in CLASSIC JEWELLERY being obliged to race three wide and without cover. He said rather than continue to race in this position in a slowly run race, he elected to allow CLASSIC JEWELLERY to improve its position without having to make too much use of the horse. He said when he was improving around POLYMER WIN near the 500 Metres, that horse raced tight between CLASSIC JEWELLERY and APOLLO CAVALIER which was shifting out. He said when he corrected CLASSIC JEWELLERY, the horse shifted out further of its own accord. He added that the circumstances of the race, most noticeably the slow tempo in the middle stages, resulted in CLASSIC JEWELLERY being ridden in this manner. After the race, it was noted that HAPPY HA HA had blood present at the right nostril. An endoscopic examination of HAPPY HA HA did not reveal any blood in the trachea and accordingly the horse was deemed not to have bled. A veterinary inspection of WINNING APEX after the race revealed that the horse had blood at its mouth due to a small laceration to its lower lip. Before being allowed to race again, WINNING APEX will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of STEP FASTER after the race found that horse was lame due to having twisted its left front plate which resulted in a nail penetrating the sole of the foot. Before being allowed to race again, STEP FASTER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SEA DIAMOND and CLASSIC JEWELLERY were sent for sampling.