17/02/2019  Shatin  Race 1

FULL OF CHANCES was crowded for room on jumping between ISHVARA and SWOT WINDICATOR, both of which shifted ground. After making contact with FULL OF CHANCES, ISHVARA shifted in and bumped BRING IT ON. From the outside barriers, LE PANACHE and HAPPY ROCKY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, FULL OF CHANCES was steadied away from the heels of CLEMENT LEGEND (K Teetan) which shifted in. K Teetan was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Near the 1500 Metres, BRING IT ON got its head up when awkwardly placed close to the heels of SWOT WINDICATOR. Near the 550 Metres, CHATER THUNDER and SWOT WINDICATOR raced tight. Near the 50 Metres, AMAZING AGILITY was shifted out from behind CLEMENT LEGEND which shifted out under pressure. When questioned regarding his riding of AMAZING AGILITY after the 1200 Metres, H N Wong stated that he was asked to shift the horse away from the rail at some stage of the race to ensure that it was able to be brought to the outside of runners to make its finishing run. He said in the lead up to the 1200 Metres he had been racing on the rail inside FULL OF CHANCES which was following CLEMENT LEGEND. He said after the 1200 Metres it appeared as though FULL OF CHANCES was not travelling well as the horse drifted out marginally and he felt that there was an opportunity for AMAZING AGILITY to shift away from the rail and take FULL OF CHANCES wider which would allow AMAZING AGILITY the opportunity to take a trailing position behind CLEMENT LEGEND, a horse which he considered to be a strong chance in the race. He said although he was marginally behind FULL OF CHANCES at this time, he felt that he was in a position to be able to take that horse wider without having to place it under undue pressure. He said therefore after the 1200 Metres he commenced to shift away from the rail and raced tight inside FULL OF CHANCES approaching and passing the 1100 Metres. He said this resulted in AMAZING AGILITY and FULL OF CHANCES bumping near the 1000 Metres and also afforded LE PANACHE the opportunity to improve its position on the rail inside AMAZING AGILITY. He added when FULL OF CHANCES continued to maintain its position behind CLEMENT LEGEND, this resulted in AMAZING AGILITY losing ground near the 900 Metres when unable to maintain its position between LE PANACHE and FULL OF CHANCES. H N Wong further stated that, in retrospect, he had been premature in shifting away from the rail given his instructions and this had resulted in him losing his position and allowing LE PANACHE the opportunity to improve inside AMAZING AGILITY and gain an advantage over that horse. H N Wong was told that whilst the Stewards accepted that he had endeavoured to comply with his instructions by shifting AMAZING AGILITY out at this time, given that it occurred so far from the Home Turn and that the field was relatively spread out at that stage, his decision to shift AMAZING AGILITY away from the rail had been too premature. He was told to ensure that he rides his mounts such that they are given every opportunity to finish off their races without encountering unnecessary interference whilst always complying with his instructions if circumstances permit. ISHVARA lost its left front plate after the race. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY ROCKY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CLEMENT LEGEND, GARLIC YEAH and LE PANACHE were sent for sampling.