11/01/2014  Shatin  Race 3

TRIUMPHANT DRAGON began very awkwardly, shifted out and made heavy contact with TREASURE MAN which became unbalanced. TREASURE MAN then shifted in and bumped SPLENDID GUY. TREASURE MAN lost its left front plate on jumping. Near the 1100 Metres and again after the 1000 Metres, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of TREASURE MAN. At the 800 Metres, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON again got its head up when proving difficult to settle and awkwardly placed close to the heels of TREASURE MAN. Then near the 700 Metres, TRIUMPHANT DRAGON lost ground when checked away from the heels of TREASURE MAN when over-racing. M Demuro (REALLY THE BEST) dropped his whip at the 300 Metres. P J HALL had some difficulty obtaining clear running approaching and passing the 200 Metres. Close to the finishing line, NO TIES shifted in and bumped IDYLLIC WIND. Because of this, NO TIES was unable to be ridden right out to the end of the race as it normally would be. For the majority of the race, ORIENTAL FANTASIA and REALLY THE BEST travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of CAPTAIN AMERICA, T Angland stated that he was able to obtain a good position in the race and that CAPTAIN AMERICA travelled well in the early and middle stages until rounding the Home Turn. He said after taking some time to improve between DRAGON CHOICE and ORIENTAL FANTASIA, CAPTAIN AMERICA, after obtaining clear running prior to the 400 Metres, immediately came under pressure and was particularly disappointing in the manner in which it failed to respond to his riding and weakened in the Straight. He added he had ridden CAPTAIN AMERICA in track work in the lead up to this race and, in his opinion, this work was good. He said based on the strength of this work, he expected CAPTAIN AMERICA to race well today. A veterinary inspection of CAPTAIN AMERICA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the performance of KOWLOON EAST KING which was successful at its last start, Apprentice C Y Lui stated that in accordance with his instructions to position his mount in the lead if possible, he rode it along in the early stages to take up a forward position which it was able to achieve without having to be made use of. He said after initially racing outside DRAGON CHOICE, he allowed KOWLOON EAST KING to continue into the lead. He said however that passing the 1100 Metres KOWLOON EAST KING commenced to over-race and would not settle. He added despite his efforts to have KOWLOON EAST KING race more generously, the horse continued to travel keenly until near the 400 Metres at which time he placed it under pressure. He said KOWLOON EAST KING did not respond to his riding and weakened over the latter stages of the Straight. He said however that the horse's performance was attributable to its refusal to settle in the early and middle stages. A veterinary inspection of KOWLOON EAST KING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MAN AND MING and TREASURE MAN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NO TIES, REALLY THE BEST and FORTUNE TERRITORY were sent for sampling.