11/11/2007  Shatin  Race 2

When the gates opened, AMAZING VENTURE, which was leaning against the outside of its stall, was slow to begin and lost a considerable amount of ground. ICHIBAN began awkwardly, then proved difficult to settle in the early stages. BRAVO BRAVO and HELLO GIBRALTAR were slow to begin. BITE MY DUST began awkwardly and stumbled. In the early stages, KING CREOLE proved difficult to settle. Also in the early stages when racing without cover, JUGGERNAUT proved difficult to settle. Throughout the race, GENERAL SPEEDEE travelled wide and without cover and near the 800 Metres was steadied away from the heels of MAGIC KING which itself was steadied away from the heels of BITE MY DUST which was carried wider by HAPPEE GIFT which in the middle stages hung out. At the 700 Metres, LIFELINE PEGASUS shifted out abruptly when being steadied away from the heels of SURE GAIN. After the 700 Metres, MAGIC KING, which had been racing wide and without cover, was ridden along to go forward and shift across to race outside the lead. At the 600 Metres, SURE GAIN was steadied away from the heels of KING CREOLE. On straightening, BITE MY DUST was bumped by ICHIBAN which shifted out. From on straightening until after the 300 Metres, BRAVO BRAVO was held up and unable to obtain clear running. For some distance after the 400 Metres, ICHIBAN and BITE MY DUST raced tight and on several occasions bumped. After the 400 Metres, FLYING KENNY was shifted out to obtain clear running. Near the 200 Metres, MAGIC KING, which was giving ground, became unbalanced and was checked when crowded for room between ICHIBAN and BRAVO BRAVO (G Boss) which got its head on the side and shifted out. As the Stewards were satisfied G Boss attempted to straighten his mount, it was decided the appropriate action was for him to be severely reprimanded and told in similar circumstances he would be expected to make every effort to protect his fellow riders. C K Tong (BITE MY DUST) said he rode his mount forward in the early stages as instructed. He said after the 900 Metres he continued to ride forward to avoid being caught racing wide and without cover, then near the 800 Metres shifted across to race outside HAPPEE GIFT. He said when he did this, HAPPEE GIFT commenced to hang out and inconvenienced his mount. He said in the Straight BITE MY DUST which was stepping up in distance today was inclined to lay in and kept on only fairly. MAGIC KING was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of MAGIC KING after the race did not show any significant findings. HAPPEE GIFT, CRIAG’S DRAGON and BRAVO BRAVO were sent for sampling.