09/03/2008  Shatin  Race 4

KING FAY FAY bounded in the air at the start and lost ground. KING FAY FAY was then ridden along to go forward and in the early stages proved difficult to settle. FIRST KNIGHT was slow to begin, shifted out and made contact with the hindquarters of CHINA HERO which became unbalanced. SOU MA TAM and SPARE A DIME were both slow to begin. From the outside barrier, TELECOM EMPEROR was taken across behind runners. MY MELODY proved difficult to settle in the early stages and making the turn at the 800 Metres was awkwardly placed close to the heels of CHEERFUL HAPPINESS. Near the 500 Metres, PERFECT TREASURE was bumped and carried wider by KING FAY FAY which shifted out from behind SOU MA TAM. For some distance between the 400 Metres and passing the 300 Metres, CHINA HERO and MY MELODY made contact on a number of occasions due to CHINA HERO shifting out from behind CHEERFUL HAPPINESS to improve. Passing the 50 Metres, TREMENDOUS PLUS was hampered and carried wider by PERFECT TREASURE which shifted out under pressure. Throughout the race, PEARL HALO travelled wide and without cover. E Saint-Martin said as this was PERFECT TREASURE’s first time over 1400 Metres, he was instructed to ride the horse in a midfield position to help it get the distance. He said accordingly he did not ride PERFECT TREASURE along in the early stages and was able to obtain a position just slightly worse than midfield and the horse was able to settle and travel kindly in the race. He said PERFECT TREASURE sprinted well in the early part of the Straight, however, finished the race off only fairly. When questioned regarding LUCKY DRAGON leading in today’s race, Y T Cheng said he was instructed due to the rail being in the C+3 position and from a wide barrier he should go forward and attempt to obtain a position with cover. It was felt this would result in LUCKY DRAGON racing in a midfield position or slightly better. He said LUCKY DRAGON began well, he immediately noticed a number of runners to his inside not being ridden along to go forward, he therefore permitted LUCKY DRAGON to continue forward and as the tempo of the race was not strong, he allowed the horse to lead. Mr A Lee, trainer of LUCKY DRAGON, confirmed the riding instructions issued to Y T Cheng and said he did not envisage LUCKY DRAGON would be able to lead the race. He said he confirmed that he anticipated the horse would be able to obtain a position slightly in advance of midfield with cover. When questioned, F Coetzee said he was instructed to have CHINA HERO sit in 3rd or 4th position. He said for this reason he did not ride along in the early stages and passing the 1200 Metres he considered allowing CHINA HERO to stride up inside MASTER OF SHAVERS which was shifting across. He said however he elected to allow that horse to cross in front of him and as he did this CHINA HERO commenced to over-race and prove difficult to settle. SPARE A DIME was sent for an official veterinary inspection and sampling. MY MELODY was sent for an official veterinary inspection. A veterinary inspection of SPARE A DIME after the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, MY MELODY was examined by the Veterinary Officer. He said the horse was making an abnormal breathing noise and an endoscopic examination confirmed the horse to be a “roarer”. LUCKY DRAGON and PEARL HALO were sent for sampling.