28/10/2012  Shatin  Race 7

MAJESTIC FALCON was withdrawn on 27.10.12 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (coughing during track work with substantial amount of mucopus on scoping). Before being allowed to race again, MAJESTIC FALCON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the 900 Metres, ABLE SPEED was left racing wide and without cover. Making the first turn near the 850 Metres, RICH UNICORN got its head up on a number of occasions and proved difficult to settle when awkwardly placed close to the heels of ABLE SPEED. ARRIVED AHEAD, which was following, was hampered in consequence. Also near the 850 Metres, FLYING BLUE got its head on the side and made the turn awkwardly. When questioned, B Prebble (CAPTAIN SWEET) stated that he had intended to obtain a forward position if possible and rode his mount positively in the early stages to do so. He said AASHIQ and LEADING CITY clearly showed more speed than CAPTAIN SWEET, however, after the 1100 Metres he rode his mount along in an attempt to clear horses to his inside and take up a position behind the speed. He said however that there were a number of horses positioned to the inside of CAPTAIN SWEET and the horse did not show enough speed to clear those horses. He added therefore he steadied his mount and attempted to obtain a position with cover rather than remain racing wide. He said in order to achieve this, he had to take CAPTAIN SWEET back into a position behind RICH UNICORN, however, passing the 800 Metres CAPTAIN SWEET came under pressure to hold its position and he was obliged to use the whip on the horse to have it maintain its position. He added that making the first turn CAPTAIN SWEET got its head on the side and lay out and continued to do so until the Home Straight. He said that in the Home Straight CAPTAIN SWEET finished off the race only one-paced and appeared to him to be reluctant to stretch out. A veterinary inspection of CAPTAIN SWEET after the race did not show any significant findings. T H So (ARRIVED AHEAD) stated that after being placed in the barriers, his mount became very fractious and attempted to rear on a number of occasions. He said as the start was effected, ARRIVED AHEAD lifted its front feet off the ground, bounded in the air and consequently was slow to begin. He said when horses around him began better, he was then not able to improve his position and because of this ARRIVED AHEAD had to be ridden towards the rear of the field. A veterinary inspection of ARRIVED AHEAD after the race did not show any significant findings. CAPTAIN SWEET, CERISE CHERRY and AASHIQ were sent for sampling.