13/10/2024  Shatin  Race 9

SPEED DRAGON (H380): Slow to begin. YOUNG ACHIEVER (J291): Shortly after the start was steadied when crowded between PRINCE OF PORTY and THE WAY WE WIN which was taken in by FIRST LOVE which shifted in despite the efforts of its rider. After the event, Z Purton reported that when his mount was commencing to finish the race off well, it was disappointed for clear running near the 150 Metres when held up behind PRINCE OF PORTY and as a result he could not test his mount out to the finish of the event. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. BEAUTY CRESCENT (H334): No report. GRACIOUS EXPRESS (J188): No report. LUCY IN THE SKY (J275): Sent for sampling post-race. SILO (J399): Over the final 150 Metres lay out, resulting in its rider B Avdulla changing his whip back to his left hand near the 100 Metres. After the event, B Avdulla stated that his instructions were to endeavour to hold an on-pace position with cover. He said in the early stages when caught wide he elected to shift in to follow GRACIOUS EXPRESS to avoid racing wide which resulted in SILO settling further back than intended. STORM RIDER (J027): After the event, L Hewitson stated that his instructions were to try and hold a midfield position with cover. He said when caught wide in the early stages and unable to comply with his instructions with the pace of the event being run outside of standard time, he allowed STORM RIDER to stride forward and race outside the lead to avoid racing wide. He added in the Home Straight STORM RIDER failed to respond to his riding and gave ground. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. AMAZING VICTORY (G123): Passing the 50 Metres was steadied when crowded between PRINCE OF PORTY which shifted out and GRACIOUS EXPRESS which shifted in. MASSIVE ACTION (E445): No report. PRINCE OF PORTY (H009): Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. Sent for sampling post-race. THE WAY WE WIN (J493): Crowded shortly after the start. ACROSS DA UNIVERSE (J328): Jumped only fairly. Prior to declaring weighed-in, M F Poon viewed the Stewards’ patrol films to ascertain if there were grounds for a protest/objection against LUCY IN THE SKY and PRINCE OF PORTY being declared the winner and second placegetter when ACROSS DA UNIVERSE was crowded between LUCY IN THE SKY and PRINCE OF PORTY near the 100 Metres. When Jockey Poon declined to lodge a protest/objection and the Stewards were satisfied that there were not sufficient grounds, weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. At a subsequent inquiry, it was established that when ACROSS DA UNIVERSE endeavoured to obtain a narrow run between PRINCE OF PORTY and LUCY IN THE SKY, it shifted out slightly and initiated a slight contact with PRINCE OF PORTY. A short distance later, LUCY IN THE SKY then shifted out, crowding ACROSS DA UNIVERSE between PRINCE OF PORTY and LUCY IN THE SKY which resulted in ACROSS DA UNIVERSE not being able to be ridden out to the finish of the event. In the circumstances, K Teetan, the rider of LUCY IN THE SKY, was advised to exercise more care when the Stewards found that ACROSS DA UNIVERSE had initially commenced to establish a tight run prior to LUCY IN THE SKY shifting out. FIRST LOVE (J355): No report.