05/07/2015  Shatin  Race 6

GOLDEN PARTNERS was withdrawn on 4.7.15 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter LIGHTNING AND GOLD (M L Yeung). Before being allowed to race again, GOLDEN PARTNERS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As the start was effected, SKIP COURT lifted its front feet off the ground and reared, resulting in the horse losing a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, SKIP COURT will be required to perform satisfactorily in an official barrier trial. BEST HOPE and ASIA RISING bumped on jumping. Shortly after the start, WIN ALONG was steadied and lost ground when crowded for room inside THUNDERSTROKE which got its head on the side and shifted in after being bumped by HAPPY PLACE. From a wide barrier, LIGHTNING AND GOLD was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. When being steadied for some distance after the 1200 Metres to allow CHANCELLOR to cross, ASIA RISING travelled keenly and proved difficult to settle. HAPPY PLACE lost its right front plate at the 700 Metres. COUP D’ETAT had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. In the Straight, HAPPY PLACE hung in under pressure and proved difficult to ride. Near the 50 Metres, ROBUST MOMENTUM was momentarily steadied away from the heels of HAPPY PLACE which continued to hang in under pressure. Over the concluding stages, COUP D’ETAT, BEAR-POP and CIRCUIT FORTUNE raced tight outside BEST HOPE which shifted out marginally under pressure. After passing the winning post, COUP D’ETAT, BEAR-POP and CIRCUIT FORTUNE were all badly crowded for room between BEST HOPE (Z Purton) which shifted out marginally and HAPPY PLACE (B Prebble) which, after being bumped on the hindquarters by CIRCUIT FORTUNE, continued to hang in and then shifted in further. Both Z Purton and B Prebble were advised that whilst there were some circumstances to this incident which occurred after passing the winning post, nonetheless they must do their utmost in similar circumstances to prevent their mounts from shifting ground. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of WIN ALONG, H W Lai stated that after being hampered at the start, he had to continually ride his mount along in an endeavour to have it make up lost ground. He said the race was run at a good tempo unlike at its last start when the horse was able to travel better off a slower pace. He said because of the circumstances of today’s race, WIN ALONG was never able to travel comfortably as it did at its last start when successful and then did not close off the race when placed under pressure in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of WIN ALONG immediately following the race revealed the horse to be a “roarer” which had previously been reported. The performance of WIN ALONG, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, WIN ALONG will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in an official barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CIRCUIT FORTUNE, FIGHTING BOY and BEST HOPE were sent for sampling.