25/09/2016  Shatin  Race 10

INVINCIBLE DRAGON was withdrawn on 24.9.16 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FRIENDS OF KA YING (Z Purton). Before being allowed to race again, INVINCIBLE DRAGON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When in the saddling stalls, PRECISION KING received a glancing kick to its left hind quarter by another horse. PRECISION KING was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. LUCKY DOUBLE EIGHT began awkwardly and shortly after the start shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of PRECISION KING which, despite being ridden along, failed to show early speed and subsequently travelled wide and without cover for the majority of the race. FRIENDS OF KA YING shifted out at the start and bumped WINSTON’S LAD. WINSTON’S LAD then shifted out, resulting in SIMPLY INVINCIBLE being crowded for room inside MERION. When MERION was directed out to relieve the tightening to SIMPLY INVINCIBLE, it shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of CIRCUIT LAND. From the outside barrier, PIKACHU was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. In the early and middle stages, WINSTON’S LAD proved very difficult to settle and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of CALIFORNIA DISEGNO passing the 1200 Metres. After this, WINSTON’S LAD continued to prove difficult to settle. Approaching the 900 Metres, MERION commenced to race keenly and got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of FRIENDS OF KA YING. N Rawiller (CIRCUIT LAND) was reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift out passing the 250 Metres, resulting in FRIENDS OF KA YING, which was giving ground, being hampered. Over the final 200 Metres, MERION hung in and proved difficult to ride. After the race, Z Purton was unable to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of FRIENDS OF KA YING. He said although the horse struck interference passing the 250 Metres, it was well beaten at that time. A veterinary inspection of FRIENDS OF KA YING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CIRCUIT LAND and PIKACHU were sent for sampling.