29/11/2015  Shatin  Race 5

LIUZHOU WARRIOR was withdrawn on 26.11.15 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (substantial amount of blood in trachea on scoping after track work) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter MALAYAN PEARL. Before being allowed to race again, LIUZHOU WARRIOR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. REUNITED and IMPERIAL GALLANTRY began only fairly. FIGHTING BOY was slow to begin. From wide barriers, BALTIC WARRIOR and ROCKET were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Due to the tempo in the middle stages, IMPERIAL GALLANTRY and ROYALE ELEGANCE made contact on a number of occasions due to both horses over-racing badly for some distance after the 1300 Metres. BALTIC WARRIOR, which was following ROYALE ELEGANCE and also proving difficult to settle, was checked away from the heels of that horse approaching the 1200 Metres. Passing the 1100 Metres, IMPERIAL GALLANTRY and ROYALE ELEGANCE, which both continued to over-race, became unbalanced when badly crowded for room between FORTUNE GIGGLES and REUNITED which shifted out when being checked away from the heels of CHANCELLOR which was awkwardly placed close to the heels of UNIQUE HAPPIEST which lost ground after striking the heels of LUCKY BALL. After the race, LUCKY BALL was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said that there were no significant findings. Making the turn near the 900 Metres, IMPERIAL GALLANTRY got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of ROYALE ELEGANCE, causing BALTIC WARRIOR to be crowded for room inside FIGHTING BOY. In this incident, FIGHTING BOY became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by BALTIC WARRIOR. After this, IMPERIAL GALLANTRY got its head up when being checked away from the heels of MALAYAN PEARL. At the same point, REUNITED lost ground after shifting out towards the heels of MALAYAN PEARL. BACKBENCH BLUES, which was following, was hampered in consequence. Approaching the 300 Metres, BACKBENCH BLUES was shifted in away from the heels of FORTUNE GIGGLES which was giving ground. Throughout the race, FORTUNE GIGGLES and FIGHTING BOY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C Schofield stated that he had been asked not to expose HO LEE HORSE too early in the Straight as the horse had not finished off its race as expected at its last start when afforded clear running at the entrance to the Straight. He said in accordance with his instructions he remained racing behind LUCKY BALL in the early part of the Straight before shifting HO LEE HORSE to the outside of that horse approaching the 300 Metres. He said as he did this LUCKY BALL shifted out in advance of HO LEE HORSE whilst his mount was also inclined to lay in. He added when placed under pressure after the 300 Metres, HO LEE HORSE continued to lay in and then finished off the race only one-paced. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on IMPERIAL GALLANTRY at the request of Trainer P O'Sullivan. The Veterinary Surgeon reported that this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, IMPERIAL GALLANTRY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of ROYALE ELEGANCE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of FORTUNE GIGGLES immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm. Before being allowed to race again, FORTUNE GIGGLES will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. IMPERIAL GALLANTRY, UNIQUE HAPPIEST and HOUSE OF LUCK were sent for sampling.