28/10/2012  Shatin  Race 11

CALIFORNIAVITALITY was withdrawn on 27.10.12 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (sore both front fetlocks and lame right fore) and was replaced by 1st Standby Declared Starter KING OF REASON (Apprentice C Y Lui). LONGWAH SUPREME was also withdrawn on 27.10.12 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by 2nd Standby Declared Starter ROYAL PARTNER (B Prebble). Before being allowed to race again, CALIFORNIAVITALITY and LONGWAH SUPREME will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GROOVY, NAVEL ORANGE and BEAUTY LEAD were slow to begin. SUPREME KNIGHT shifted in at the start and bumped ROYAL PARTNER. After this, SUPREME KNIGHT was taken across behind runners. KING’S FOLKS was crowded for room at the start between MASQUERADER and TOUCH GO, both of which shifted ground. TOUCH GO proved very difficult to settle in the early stages and got its head up for some distance. Near the 1000 Metres, MASQUERADER was awkwardly placed close to the heels of TOUCH GO. G-ONE WINNING, which was following MASQUERADER, was hampered in consequence. ROYAL PARTNER got its head on the side and hung out rounding the Home Turn. For a considerable distance after the 400 Metres, KEEN MARIE was held up for clear running and near the 300 Metres was steadied when disappointed for a run between KING’S FOLKS and KING OF REASON which was shifted to the inside of TOUCH GO to obtain clear running. When questioned, Y T Cheng stated that he had been instructed to obtain a forward position on GROOVY. He said GROOVY was slow to begin as it had done in some of its races. He said this allowed ROYAL PARTNER to shift across in front of GROOVY and after obtaining the position in front of GROOVY then commenced to steady to obtain cover. He said at this time GROOVY commenced to prove difficult to settle and rather than fight his horse he shifted GROOVY out with a view to improving his position and hopefully obtaining a position forward of midfield. He said however that due to the circumstances of the race GROOVY was not able to shift in and obtain cover and as GROOVY was proving difficult to settle, he continued to allow the horse to stride forward, however, was obliged to race in a three wide position without cover outside the leaders. He added he felt that this option was in GROOVY’s best interests rather than have the horse racing back in the field and over-racing. A veterinary inspection of ROYAL PARTNER after the race did not show any significant findings. KING OF REASON and G-ONE WINNING were sent for sampling.