14/05/2016  Shatin  Race 6

EASY TOUCH was withdrawn on 13.5.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left front foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter DRAGON GENERAL (O Bosson). Before being allowed to race again, EASY TOUCH will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On arrival at the Start, it was noted that DRAGON GENERAL had lost its left front plate. After this plate was refitted, DRAGON GENERAL was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. This resulted in a delay to the start of the race. BAD BOY lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and then was bumped by DIAMOND DRAGON which began awkwardly and shifted out. A short distance after the start, DIAMOND DRAGON, which continued to shift out, was checked away from the heels of SPEEDY ACHIEVER which shifted in, resulting in DIAMOND DRAGON losing ground. OUR FOLKS, which was fractious in the barriers, was crowded for room on jumping between IMPERIAL FIGHTER and SMART DECLARATION, both of which shifted ground. A short distance after the start, IMPERIAL FIGHTER was steadied away from the heels of DRAGON GENERAL which shifted out. DRAGON GENERAL lost its right front plate at the 700 Metres and its left front plate over the concluding stages. After the 400 Metres, RACING SUPERNOVA (Z Purton) was shifted to the inside of the heels of WINFULL PATROL so as to be positioned to improve between WINFULL PATROL and PERPETUAL TREASURE. A short distance later, DRAGON GENERAL (O Bosson) shifted out marginally and brushed PERPETUAL TREASURE which then shifted out away from that horse and bumped RACING SUPERNOVA, causing both horses to become unbalanced. RACING SUPERNOVA then improved sharply to be close to the heels of WINFULL PATROL and was checked away from the heels of that horse and shifted in marginally, making further contact with PERPETUAL TREASURE which, when already unbalanced, became further unbalanced, shifted in and bumped DRAGON GENERAL. DRAGON GENERAL then became badly unbalanced and lay out badly, causing PERPETUAL TREASURE to be severely checked when buffeted for room between DRAGON GENERAL and RACING SUPERNOVA which continued to be checked away from the heels of WINFULL PATROL. The Stewards found that Z Purton was fully entitled to initially direct RACING SUPERNOVA towards the inside of the heels of WINFULL PATROL as at no time did that horse have to make contact with PERPETUAL TREASURE in order to do so. The Stewards were also comfortable that the initial marginal shift outwards from DRAGON GENERAL was as a result of no carelessness on the part of O Bosson. The Stewards ruled that whilst this incident was one of considerable significance, it was not attributable to any rider error and accordingly no further action was taken. Z Purton stated that after this he shifted RACING SUPERNOVA to the outside of WINFULL PATROL to relieve the tightening to PERPETUAL TREASURE and also to extricate RACING SUPERNOVA away from the heels of WINFULL PATROL. He said however at this time there was not sufficient room for RACING SUPERNOVA to improve to the outside of WINFULL PATROL and after PERPETUAL TREASURE lost ground, he felt that there was a brief opportunity where a run may present itself to the inside of WINFULL PATROL and outside DRAGON GENERAL near the 200 Metres. He said however that run did not materialize due to both horses shifting slight ground and therefore he was forced to check RACING SUPERNOVA near the 150 Metres and direct his mount to the outside of WINFULL PATROL which had shifted in away from the outside rail. He added he was able to obtain clear running outside WINFULL PATROL near the 100 Metres and RACING SUPERNOVA then finished off the race strongly. Passing the 300 Metres, OUR FOLKS was shifted to the inside of ARCHIPPUS after being disappointed for running between that horse and SMART DECLARATION. Passing the 200 Metres, BAD BOY got its head on the side and shifted out away from SPEEDY ACHIEVER, resulting in its rider having to stop riding and straighten. A short distance after this, BAD BOY and SPEEDY ACHIEVER bumped. Near the 100 Metres, BAD BOY was bumped by SPEEDY ACHIEVER which shifted out marginally. Over the concluding stages, SPEEDY ACHIEVER raced tight inside ARCHIPPUS and consequently was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. Close to the finishing line, WINFULL PATROL raced tight outside DRAGON GENERAL. After the race, it was reported that IMPERIAL FIGHTER had bled from both nostrils. A subsequent endoscopic examination of that horse conducted by the Veterinary Officer confirmed IMPERIAL FIGHTER to have bled. A veterinary inspection of DIAMOND DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ARCHIPPUS and RACING SUPERNOVA were sent for sampling.