06/02/2016  Shatin  Race 9

TRAVEL BROTHER was withdrawn on 5.2.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BUBBLE CHIC (Y T Cheng). Before being allowed to race again, TRAVEL BROTHER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SECRET WEAPON, which began only fairly, and TOP ACT were crowded for room at the start between HELENE SUPER STAR which knuckled over on jumping and FLAME HERO which shifted out abruptly. From the outside barriers, HELENE HAPPY STAR and KABAYAN were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. When racing wide near the 1400 Metres, CELESTIAL SMILE was steadied to obtain a position with cover. After the 1300 Metres, PACKING LLAREGYB shifted out abruptly away from the heels of HARBOUR MASTER after commencing to prove very difficult to settle and having to be checked away from the heels of that horse. Passing the 1000 Metres, HELENE HAPPY STAR was steadied away from the heels of KABAYAN which shifted in away from the heels of GUN PIT when proving very difficult to settle. Passing the 650 Metres, CELESTIAL SMILE was steadied after improving into tight running between TOP ACT and SECRET WEAPON which was shifting out away from the heels of FLAME HERO. Approaching the 600 Metres, HELENE HAPPY STAR was taken wider when bumped by KABAYAN which shifted out away from the heels of GUN PIT after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse. At the entrance to the Straight, TOP ACT was awkwardly placed close to the heels of HELENE SUPER STAR. HARBOUR MASTER lost its right hind plate near the 400 Metres. SECRET WEAPON was badly held up for clear running until after the 200 Metres. After the 300 Metres, PACKING LLAREGYB got its head on the side and lay in under pressure, resulting in HARBOUR MASTER and BUBBLE CHIC being crowded for room passing the 200 Metres between PACKING LLAREGYB and FLAME HERO which shifted out. After the 150 Metres, FLAME HERO was shifted in to relieve the tightening to BUBBLE CHIC and improved to be racing towards the inside of ROMANTIC TOUCH. SECRET WEAPON, which was following FLAME HERO and was improving inside that horse at the same time, was then directed in by FLAME HERO, resulting in DOMINANT being steadied when crowded for room near the 100 Metres. After the 100 Metres, SECRET WEAPON and FLAME HERO momentarily raced tight inside ROMANTIC TOUCH which shifted in marginally. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of CELESTIAL SMILE, S de Sousa stated that after racing in restricted room passing the 650 Metres, he placed his mount under pressure rounding the Home Turn. He said in the early part of the Straight he was in two minds as to whether to attempt runs to the inside or outside of SECRET WEAPON which was racing in advance of CELESTIAL SMILE, however, after receiving a bump from TOP ACT, he then shifted CELESTIAL SMILE to the inside. He said however that CELESTIAL SMILE immediately came under pressure and was disappointing in the manner in which it finished off the race. A veterinary inspection of CELESTIAL SMILE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of HELENE HAPPY STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of KABAYAN immediately following the race revealed the horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, KABAYAN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SECRET WEAPON and ROMANTIC TOUCH were sent for sampling.