29/12/2013  Shatin  Race 7

CHATER D’CAT was withdrawn on 27.12.13 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter READY TO CELEBRATE. Before being allowed to race again, CHATER D’CAT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FORTUNE BRAVO proved difficult to load. Before being allowed to race again, FORTUNE BRAVO will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. EASY AHEAD was slow to begin. REAL GENERAL and FORTUNE BRAVO began awkwardly For some distance after the 1400 Metres, BETTER ANNOUNCE became unbalanced in its action and, despite being ridden along, failed to hold its position. At the entrance to the Straight, BETTER ANNOUNCE was checked away from the heels of READY TO CELEBRATE which gave ground abruptly. Also at the entrance to the Straight, REAL GENERAL was steadied away from the heels of WHAT A HEART after being disappointed for running between that horse and COUNTRY CHARM. Throughout the race, READY TO CELEBRATE travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. Whilst being examined by the Veterinary Officer after the race, READY TO CELEBRATE collapsed. When questioned regarding the performance of DRAGON KEEPER, Z Purton stated that the horse, which was having its first race start on the All Weather Track, became unbalanced on a number of occasions, got its head on the side making the turn after the 1400 Metres and shifted out and in doing so raced tight inside PERFECT JOY. He said when racing between READY TO CELEBRATE and REAL GENERAL along the Back Straight, DRAGON KEEPER lay in and was reluctant to maintain its position between those horses. He added DRAGON KEEPER came off the bridle and then in the Straight gave ground abruptly. He said having in mind DRAGON KEEPER had previously bled in a race, he was concerned that the horse may be experiencing internal issues and therefore he eased it down after rounding the Home Turn but by this time it had already given ground abruptly. A veterinary inspection of DRAGON KEEPER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of DRAGON KEEPER, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, DRAGON KEEPER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of BETTER ANNOUNCE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PERFECT JOY and OYSTER were sent for sampling.