23/03/2025  Shatin  Race 9

INVINCIBLE SHIELD (K168): Bumped at the start. In the early stages raced keenly and near the 950 Metres shifted out when being steadied to avoid FREE PONY. INVINCIBLE SHIELD continued to race keenly for some distance thereafter. Sent for sampling post-race. SUPER LEGENDS (H364): Jumped awkwardly, shifted in and was bumped. When questioned, C Soumillon stated that the instructions from an awkward barrier were to endeavour to find cover. He said SUPER LEGENDS jumped awkwardly and became unbalanced and as a result his mount was positioned midfield in the early stages. He said when MAGNIFIQUE held its position to his inside he elected to endeavour to follow that runner but when caught wide to the outside of BASIC INSTINCT he was obliged to come further back to comply with his instructions to find cover. He added when placed under pressure in the Home Straight SUPER LEGENDS finished the race off well. Trainer C S Shum confirmed the instructions issued and emphasised that he required Jockey Soumillon to obtain cover to avoid racing wide. TRIUMPHANT MORE (J489): Sent for sampling post-race. MAGNIFIQUE (K141): On jumping was bumped by SUPER LEGENDS which shifted in. When questioned, B Avdulla stated that his instructions were to take up a forward position. He said MAGNIFIQUE, which had been unusually fractious in the barriers, was hampered at the start when it made contact with SUPER LEGENDS. He said in the early stages he was obliged to make use of MAGNIFIQUE to go forward and comply with his instructions and the horse did not show its usual speed in the early stages. He added in the Home Straight MAGNIFIQUE immediately came under pressure and when SUPER INFINITY and INVINCIBLE SHIELD shifted ground slightly near the 200 Metres his mount did not respond to his riding and gave ground from that point. Trainer D J Hall advised that MAGNIFIQUE had pleased him leading into today’s race and in particular had barrier trialed well at Sha Tin on 11 March 2025. He added that he had expected MAGNIFIQUE to perform well today and could offer no explanation for the horse’s disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of MAGNIFIQUE was considered disappointing as compared to its previous race starts. Before being allowed to race again, MAGNIFIQUE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Sent for sampling post-race. WAVE GARDEN (K209): No report. SUPER INFINITY (J320): No report. BASIC INSTINCT (K289): No report. FREE PONY (K229): No report. MAJESTIC EXPRESS (J244): Bumped at the start. In the middle stages raced keenly. Held up for clear running between the 400 Metres and the 200 Metres. CALL TO COMMAND (J243): No report. LEGENDARY IMPACT (K035): No report. AURIO (K056): From a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. When questioned regarding his riding, A Atzeni stated that the intention was to settle back in the field as is its usual racing pattern. He said making the Home Turn he considered shifting to the outside of CALL TO COMMAND to secure clear running. He added when he was of the opinion CALL TO COMMAND would give ground he elected to improve to that runner’s inside and follow FREE PONY. He said when LEGENDARY IMPACT then shifted out he was disappointed for clear running between that runner and CALL TO COMMAND and as a result was held up until near the 300 Metres. The Stewards advised Jockey Atzeni that, in their opinion, he would have been better suited by being shifted to the outside of CALL TO COMMAND on entering the Home Straight to provide his mount with clear and uninterrupted running. LIGHTNESS OF BEING (K159): Withdrawn on 22.3.25 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right hind). Before being allowed to race again, LIGHTNESS OF BEING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.