02/02/2013  Shatin  Race 1

WINFULL PATROL was withdrawn on 31.1.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter JUST FOLLOW ME. Before being allowed to race again, WINFULL PATROL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SHARE OF GOLD shifted out at the start and bumped MULTIEXPRESS which in turn shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of HANNIBAL BARCA which became unbalanced. CAVALE was slow to begin. LORD DRAGON became unbalanced at the start when crowded for room between DIAMOND KNIGHT and JUST FOLLOW ME, both of which shifted ground. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, KOWLOON EAST KING was slow to muster speed. After the 600 Metres, HANNIBAL BARCA got its head on the side and hung out. Over the final 400 Metres, MULTIEXPRESS also hung out. Approaching the 100 Metres, LORD DRAGON was shifted in away from the heels of CALL ME ACHIEVER to improve. Close to the finishing line, LORD DRAGON was steadied when disappointed for running between SMART TOUCH and DIAMOND KNIGHT which got its head on the side and shifted out under pressure. Because of this, LORD DRAGON was not ridden out right to the finishing line as it normally would be. When questioned, U Rispoli stated that when he had ridden DIAMOND KNIGHT in its last three starts, whilst it had performed consistently, it had raced too strongly in the early stages of those races and consequently had not finished off strongly. He said it was felt that today it would be in the best interests of the horse for it to be ridden off the speed in the early stages in the hope that it would find the line more strongly than it had of late. He said because of this he took hold of DIAMOND KNIGHT shortly after the start and whilst it was racing keenly in the early stages, it settled and then travelled strongly. He said he shifted his mount out into clear running after the 400 Metres and DIAMOND KNIGHT initially responded to his riding. He said however that the horse got its head on the side and hung out, as it had also done in its previous races, and proved difficult to ride over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of SHARE OF GOLD including an endoscopic examination after the race showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SHARE OF GOLD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GRIMMY and JADE CHRISTY were sent for sampling.