14/06/2015  Shatin  Race 2

After being loaded, P J HALL became fractious, reared and momentarily got its right front leg into the adjoining stall. P J HALL was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, P J HALL will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. Also after being loaded, ABLE TALENT became fractious and subsequently finished tailed out. The performance of ABLE TALENT was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ABLE TALENT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LUCKY FOLLOW ME and YOUNG HAPPY were slow to begin and shortly after the start were crowded for room inside P J HALL which, when being ridden along, shifted in before being corrected by its rider. Shortly after the start, FRIENDS OF YAN OI and LAUDABLE VIRTUE were crowded for room between TRAVEL MASTER and MEDIC SWORDSMAN which shifted in. LUCKY FOLLOW ME lost its left front plate at the 1000 Metres and its right front plate passing the 700 Metres. For some distance after the 800 Metres, LUCKY FOLLOW ME, which was travelling keenly, got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of FRIENDS OF YAN OI. After the 500 Metres, ABLE TALENT got its head on the side and lay out. At the 400 Metres, P J HALL was steadied and lost ground when unable to improve into tight running between SUPER SILKS and GRASSLAND DRAGON. In this incident, P J HALL bumped the hindquarters of GRASSLAND DRAGON which became unbalanced. At the entrance to the Straight, FANTASTICLIFE was shifted out away from the heels of ABLE TALENT which was commencing to give ground. FRIENDS OF YAN OI, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence. Passing the 400 Metres, FRIENDS OF YAN OI was then shifted in abruptly away from the heels of ABLE TALENT which continued to give ground. Near the 350 Metres, ABLE TALENT, which continued to weaken, was steadied away from the heels of MEDIC SWORDSMAN which got its head on the side and shifted out slightly. MEDIC SWORDSMAN was then held up for clear running behind DOUBLE DRAGON until passing the 300 Metres. Also passing the 400 Metres, FANTASTICLIFE and SUPER SILKS bumped on a number of occasions. In the early part of the Straight, YOUNG HAPPY lay in, resulting in its rider having to stop riding and correct his mount. LAUDABLE VIRTUE had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Also in the early part of the Straight, GRASSLAND DRAGON raced tight inside SOLAR DRAGON when held up for clear running behind TRAVEL MASTER. Passing the 350 Metres, GRASSLAND DRAGON shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of SOLAR DRAGON which became unbalanced. Approaching the 250 Metres, GRASSLAND DRAGON got its head on the side and lay out onto SOLAR DRAGON, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. GRASSLAND DRAGON continued to lay out and passing the 250 Metres SOLAR DRAGON and LAUDABLE VIRTUE were crowded for room between GRASSLAND DRAGON (G Mosse) and YOUNG HAPPY (H W Lai) which shifted in before being corrected by its rider. In this incident, YOUNG HAPPY became unbalanced and shifted in further after being bumped by LAUDABLE VIRTUE. As the Stewards were satisfied that G Mosse had stopped riding and prevented GRASSLAND DRAGON from shifting out further, no further action was taken in respect of his actions. H W Lai was advised that whilst there was a significant contribution in this incident from GRASSLAND DRAGON shifting out, nonetheless he would be expected, in similar circumstances, to stop riding and straighten his mount sooner than he did on this occasion. After this, GRASSLAND DRAGON was steadied away from the heels of TRAVEL MASTER after becoming unbalanced when bumped by SOLAR DRAGON. Near the 250 Metres, SUPER SILKS was steadied away from the heels of FANTASTICLIFE when racing in restricted room between that horse and TRAVEL MASTER. P J HALL, which was following, was shifted out abruptly away from the heels of SUPER SILKS after being held up for clear running behind that horse. Throughout the race, TRAVEL MASTER and SOLAR DRAGON travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of P J HALL and SOLAR DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. FANTASTICLIFE and MAGICAL BEAM were sent for sampling.