23/10/2022  Shatin  Race 9

LIGHTNING WARRIOR was withdrawn on 21.10.22 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SAKEWIN (M Chadwick). Before being allowed to race again, LIGHTNING WARRIOR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ENCHANTING IBIS shifted out abruptly at the start, resulting in SPANGLE FORTUNE being hampered when crowded for room inside TAMRA BLITZ. After this, ENCHANTING IBIS, SPANGLE FORTUNE and TAMRA BLITZ were shifted across behind runners. INVINCIBLE MISSILE was slow to begin and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners shortly after the start. Near the 350 Metres, TELECOM SPEED, which was laying in, was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SAKEWIN. Throughout the race, SAKEWIN travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, M F Poon stated that after being loaded into the barriers VICTOR THE WINNER was fractious and then as the start was effected lifted its front feet off the ground and began awkwardly which resulted in the horse losing ground. He said because of this he rode his mount along in the early stages and VICTOR THE WINNER was able to show sufficient speed to improve underneath horses and lead the race near the 900 Metres. He said because of the manner in which VICTOR THE WINNER began, he had to make more use of his horse in the early stages than he would have liked. He said after having ridden along in the early stages, VICTOR THE WINNER then would not relax in the middle stages as it had done at its only other race start which resulted in today’s race being run at a faster tempo. He added that in the early part of the Straight VICTOR THE WINNER quickened satisfactorily, however, came under pressure after the 200 Metres. He said when tiring close to the finishing line, VICTOR THE WINNER became badly unbalanced of its own accord which he was not able to offer an explanation for other than the horse is still immature at this stage of its racing career. A veterinary inspection of VICTOR THE WINNER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, L Currie stated that he was instructed to ride SPANGLE FORTUNE, which was having its first race start in Hong Kong today, in about a midfield position if possible from barrier 11. He said after being crowded for room on jumping, SPANGLE FORTUNE had to be ridden further back in the field than had been intended. He said in the middle stages SPANGLE FORTUNE lay out and he was unable to prevent ENCHANTING IBIS from shifting out after the 900 Metres. He said he rode his mount along including slapping the horse down the shoulder with the whip approaching the 700 Metres in an endeavour to have SPANGLE FORTUNE race more tractably and to improve forward of ENCHANTING IBIS so as not to be taken further wider by that horse. He said despite his efforts SPANGLE FORTUNE was not able to improve its position and continued to lay out after the 700 Metres. He said as SPANGLE FORTUNE was laying out, he felt that it would be more advantageous if the horse was able to take a run inside JAZZ CLUB passing the 500 Metres and follow MIDORI BEAUTY through rather than improving to the outside of JAZZ CLUB. He said however that ENCHANTING IBIS was able to improve its position inside JAZZ CLUB which resulted in him being awkwardly placed behind that horse after the 400 Metres. He said whilst it was again available to him to shift to the outside of JAZZ CLUB, he felt that it was a better option to follow ENCHANTING IBIS through given SPANGLE FORTUNE’s racing manners in the middle stages. He added that as he improved to the inside of JAZZ CLUB, SPANGLE FORTUNE lay out and then was crowded for room outside TAMRA BLITZ which shifted out when awkwardly placed outside INVINCIBLE MISSILE. He said after this he rode his mount along and SPANGLE FORTUNE finished the race off satisfactorily. A veterinary inspection of SAKEWIN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. VICTOR THE WINNER, KING LAND and ENCHANTING IBIS were sent for sampling.