17/02/2013  Shatin  Race 6

CULTURAL CITY was withdrawn on 14.2.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (substantial amount of mucus in trachea on scoping after track work) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter VAUGIRARD (C W Wong). Before being allowed to race again, CULTURAL CITY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GREAT RUN was slow to begin. EASY TO RICH began very awkwardly and shifted out, resulting in WIN ALONG being crowded for room inside LEO’S PRIDE. From wide barriers, LEGEND EXPRESS, GOLDEN TREASURE and RIO WILLIE were all taken across behind runners shortly after the start. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, WIN ALONG was awkwardly placed inside the heels of JOLLY GOOD. For some distance after the 1300 Metres, ALL FRIENDS was awkwardly placed close to the heels of EASY TO RICH. Passing the 1200 Metres, WIN ALONG was awkwardly placed close to the heels of JOLLY GOOD and shifted out, resulting in LEO’S PRIDE being taken wider. LEO’S PRIDE travelled wide and without cover until passing the 700 Metres. Approaching the 100 Metres, JOLLY GOOD was taken out by REAL DRAGON which itself was taken wider by NEW GREENFIELD which shifted out under pressure. After this, JOLLY GOOD was awkwardly placed close to the heels of REAL DRAGON for some distance. H W Lai (LEGEND EXPRESS) was fined a sum of $2,000 for repeatedly raising his whip arm above shoulder height in the Home Straight. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he had been instructed not to ride REAL DRAGON along in the early stages but rather to shift his mount across and obtain a position where it was comfortable with cover. He said although he did not ride REAL DRAGON at its last start, he was of the understanding that these were the similar instructions which were given to the rider of the horse on that occasion. He said REAL DRAGON began only fairly today and when a number of horses were ridden along to his inside, he commenced to shift REAL DRAGON across behind runners. He said in order to obtain cover, he had to position REAL DRAGON behind midfield. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on GREAT RUN at the request of Trainer A T Millard. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, GREAT RUN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of JOLLY GOOD after the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of LEO’S PRIDE after the race revealed that it was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being permitted to race again, LEO’S PRIDE will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ALL FRIENDS and CHAMPAGNE DAYS were sent for sampling.