27/01/2008  Shatin  Race 2

SPRING SMILES, SUPREME DRAGON and SUPREME GOLD were slow to begin. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, JOY TRUMPS was steadied away from the heels of SHINING DAY which got its head on the side and shifted out. At the 1400 Metres, DOUBLE PLEASURE was steadied when awkwardly placed outside the heels of SHINING DAY which at this time shifted ground while hanging. Near the 1300 Metres, SUPREME DRAGON, which was hanging out, shifted out and was steadied away from the heels of JOY TRUMPS. SPRING SMILES, which was following, was checked to avoid the heels of SUPREME DRAGON. Making the turn at the 700 Metres, SHINING DAY was steadied away from the heels of SUPREME GOLD which at this time shifted out. After this, SHINING DAY hung out and was checked away from the heels of DOUBLE PLEASURE. When SHINING DAY hung out, DRAGON STRIDE was hampered and carried wider. Throughout the race, CITY SURFER travelled wide and without cover and making the Home Turn hung out. After the race, B Prebble (SPRING SMILES) reported his mount did not appreciate racing amongst horses, however, due to the manner in which the race was run, he was not able to shift to the outside of runners. When questioned regarding the improved performance of GOLDEN BALL, Mr C W Chang, trainer of the horse, explained the horse in his opinion benefited from returning to race on the All Weather surface, a drop in grade to Class 4 and barrier 1. He said at its most recent start GOLDEN BALL had drawn the outside barrier over 1600 Metres on the C+3 turf course. He said on that occasion GOLDEN BALL was taken back, however, failed to finish its race off. He said at its previous start GOLDEN BALL again raced in a rearward position from a wide barrier on the C+3 turf course and on that occasion was beaten less than 5 lengths. He said with the exception of GOLDEN BALL’s last start, he had been satisfied with the horse’s performances. He added when racing in Class 3, because of the light weights allocated to the horse, he had not been able to engage a senior rider to ride GOLDEN BALL. He said today with the rise in the horse’s handicap weight due to it dropping to Class 4, the horse was ridden by a senior jockey which he also believed was of benefit. GALLANT KNIGHT and SHINING DAY were sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of GALLANT KNIGHT and SHINING DAY after the race did not show any significant findings. SPRING SMILES, GOLDEN BALL and SUPREME GOLD were sent for sampling.