27/06/2015  Shatin  Race 2

After leaving the Parade Ring, VICTORY DUKE kicked a rail. After being loaded, VICTORY DUKE became fractious and lunged at the front gates. VICTORY DUKE was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. After the race, B Prebble (VICTORY DUKE) reported that the horse, which sweated up badly in the Parade Ring, was very stirred up and became fractious in the barriers and may have made contact with the front gates. He said, in his opinion, these circumstances would account for the horse’s disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of VICTORY DUKE immediately following the race found blood to be present at the mouth due to a loose incisor tooth, however, this was unlikely to be of significance. The performance of VICTORY DUKE was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, VICTORY DUKE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GALLANT ROCK began very awkwardly, shifted out and bumped SHANGHAI BOND. NOBLE BUDDIES began only fairly. PACKING DRAGON began awkwardly. Apprentice H N Wong (PEACE COMBINATION) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching the 900 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of VICTORY DUKE, causing that horse to be hampered and taken out across EASY SUCCESS which lost its rightful running and was checked. In this incident, GIDDY GIDDY was bumped by GLORY HORSIE which in turn was bumped by VICTORY DUKE. Apprentice Wong was suspended from riding in races for a period to expire on Thursday, 9 July 2015 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). The commencement of the suspension was deferred until after the Sha Tin racemeeting on Wednesday, 1 July 2015. Passing the 900 Metres, GALLANT ROCK was steadied away from the heels of GOLDEN BAUHINIA. After the 900 Metres, GLORY HORSIE and VICTORY DUKE raced tight between GIDDY GIDDY which shifted out away from the heels of SING SING SING and PEACE COMBINATION which shifted in marginally. GLORY HORSIE lost its left hind plate approaching the 800 Metres. Over about the last 60 Metres, PEACE COMBINATION got its head on the side and hung out. The performance of SHANGHAI BOND, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SHANGHAI BOND will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. N Callan, the rider of the 4th placed, MAGICAL BEAUTY, was fined the sum of $5,000 for failing to weigh in prior to entering the Jockeys’ Room. As the Stewards were satisfied that MAGICAL BEAUTY had carried the correct weight, weighed-in was declared on the numbers displayed by the Judge. When questioned, N Rawiller (SING SING SING) stated that for the majority of the race his mount hung in badly and appeared to him to be favouring its left front leg. He said the further the race progressed, the more difficult SING SING SING became to manage and after the 400 Metres SING SING SING gave ground abruptly. He added after the race he was not able to detect any lameness with SING SING SING, however, the horse did not appear to stride out as fluently as it had when he rode the horse at its last start. A veterinary inspection of SING SING SING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of SING SING SING was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SING SING SING 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 NOBLE BUDDIES immediately following the race revealed the horse to be lame in its left hind leg with an associated swollen hock. Before being allowed to race again, NOBLE BUDDIES will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of GLORY HORSIE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NOBLE BUDDIES, GOLDEN BAUHINIA and GALLANT ROCK were sent for sampling.