01/07/2015  Shatin  Race 6

HELLO KIMBERLEY was withdrawn on 30.6.15 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter RISING POWER (W M Lai). Before being allowed to race again, HELLO KIMBERLEY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. RISING POWER was crowded for room on jumping between WINNING APEX which began awkwardly and DASHING SUPER which shifted in. SUPERKING DRAGON and DIAMOND FRIENDS bumped on jumping. From a wide barrier, WINNING MASCOT was steadied shortly after the start and shifted across behind runners. Making the first turn after the winning post on the first occasion, DIAMOND FRIENDS and WINNING APEX raced tight inside DASHING SUPER (M L Yeung) which got its head on the side and hung in despite the efforts of its rider. In this incident, WINNING APEX was steadied when no longer able to maintain its position between DIAMOND FRIENDS and DASHING SUPER. As the Stewards were satisfied that M L Yeung had taken all reasonable measures to prevent DASHING SUPER from shifting in, no further action was taken. Passing the 1400 Metres, RISING POWER commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of WINNING APEX. For some distance after the 1000 Metres, LUCKY PLACE proved very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of ATOMIC BLAST. Then after the 900 Metres, LUCKY PLACE shifted out away from the heels of ATOMIC BLAST, resulting in HAPPY MOMENTS being taken wider. LUCKY PLACE continued to travel keenly and improved its position around ATOMIC BLAST after the 700 Metres. At the entrance to the Straight, SUPERKING DRAGON was awkwardly placed outside the heels of DASHING SUPER. HURRY HURRY UP was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight when unable to obtain clear running behind EN CIVIL which was giving ground. Throughout the race, HAPPY MOMENTS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, B Prebble stated that as there appeared to be considerable pace in the race, it was decided for SUPERKING DRAGON to be ridden in about a midfield position if possible. He said after passing the winning post on the first occasion he had to steady SUPERKING DRAGON due to runners to his outside crossing to shift in towards the rail. He said had he have attempted to maintain his position at this time, SUPERKING DRAGON would likely have met with interference and therefore the horse was obliged to race one spot further back in the field than had been intended. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of EN CIVIL, Z Purton, who had not previously ridden the horse, stated that whilst he had to make some use of EN CIVIL to cross the field from the outside barrier, it was able to relax satisfactorily in the middle stages. He said although the pace of the race was solid, the track appeared to be riding fast and he did not believe that the tempo he set on the horse provided an excuse for the manner in which EN CIVIL came under pressure rounding the Home Turn. He said despite being placed under pressure after the 400 Metres, EN CIVIL did not respond to his riding and weakened out of the race noticeably in the early part of the Straight. A veterinary inspection of EN CIVIL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of EN CIVIL, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, EN CIVIL 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 RISING POWER immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, RISING POWER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. DIAMOND FRIENDS, SPINNING DANCER and ELEGANCE KLAMMER were sent for sampling. <2/7/2015 Additional Veterinary Report>The Veterinary Officer reported that ALWAYS SOMETHING was lame in its right front leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, ALWAYS SOMETHING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.