19/06/2016  Shatin  Race 11

LUCKY SCEPTER was withdrawn on 18.6.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore foot) and was replaced by first Standby Declared Starter SUPER CLAN (H W Lai). RUN FORREST was also withdrawn on 18.6.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter MEGA RED (B Prebble). Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY SCEPTER and RUN FORREST will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. DIVINE DIYA was slow to begin. MEGA RED began only fairly. SUPER CLAN began only fairly and then shortly after the start blundered after being crowded for room inside VERBINSKY which shifted in abruptly on jumping. HANG'S DECISION shifted out at the start and bumped METALLIC STAR. Shortly after the start, SUPER TALENT, which was being ridden along, was crowded for room between BOLSHOI BALLET and THUNDER STOMP. After this, when left racing wide, SUPER TALENT was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. From the outside barrier, RACING HERO was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. BOLSHOI BALLET lost its right front plate after the 1350 Metres. Passing the 1300 Metres, HANG'S DECISION and TIANHUANG momentarily raced in restricted room inside METALLIC STAR. Also passing the 1300 Metres, the left cheek piece worn by HANG'S DECISION became detached. After the 1100 Metres, MEGA RED commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of NITRO EXPRESS. C Schofield (NITRO EXPRESS) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that near the 850 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of HANG'S DECISION, causing that horse to be checked when taken in onto TIANHUANG which was also checked and lost the running to which it was rightfully entitled. SUPER CLAN, DIVINE DIYA, SUPER TALENT and RACING HERO, which were following, were all hampered as a consequence. After being checked away from the heels of NITRO EXPRESS, HANG'S DECISION shifted out abruptly, resulting in MEGA RED being hampered and taken wider. C Schofield was suspended from riding in races for a period incorporating the first three racemeetings of the 2016/2017 racing season. In addition, C Schofield was fined $70,000. Near the 750 Metres, after being crossed by VERBINSKY, METALLIC STAR commenced to prove difficult to settle and shifted out away from the heels of VERBINSKY. After the 200 Metres, VERBINSKY got its head on the side and shifted in under pressure. Throughout the race, BOLSHOI BALLET travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of RACING HERO, SUPER TALENT and TIANHUANG immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on MEGA RED at the request of Trainer K W Lui. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, MEGA RED will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SPICY SURE and VERBINSKY were sent for sampling.