13/04/2025  Shatin  Race 3

COMMANDING MISSILE (G210): A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PODIUM (H173): Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. THE CONCENTRATION (H465): Crowded at the start between HO HO STAR and CIRCUIT TEN which jumped awkwardly and shifted in. STERLING WONGCHOY (H273): No report. CIRCUIT TEN (G429): Jumped awkwardly, shifted in at the start and was bumped. Over-raced in the early stages and near the 1000 Metres got its head up when being steadied to avoid PODIUM. After the event, Z Purton could offer no explanation for his mount’s failure to finish the race off in the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SKY PROPHET (J095): Sent for sampling post-race. CHEER FOR SOUTH (H178): No report. FALCON COURT (J056): Slow to begin. HO HO STAR (H291): Shortly after the start got its head up when being shifted across behind runners from a wide barrier. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that from a wide barrier the instructions were to endeavour to hold a midfield position but also to attempt to position himself close to the rail as HO HO STAR races best in this position. He said in the early stages when positioned to the outside of MULTIDARLING he was obliged to settle slightly further back to avoid covering additional ground. He added making the Home Turn HO HO STAR commenced to travel reasonably well and after entering the Home Straight he was reluctant to place his mount under full pressure as he wanted to give HO HO STAR the opportunity to work into the race. He said approaching the 300 Metres after shifting to the inside of COMMANDING MISSILE he then placed his mount under full pressure where it finished the race off reasonably well. When questioned if there was an opportunity to ride his mount with more vigour between the 400 Metres and the 300 Metres M Chadwick stated that he felt HO HO STAR was travelling well at this point and had he commenced to ride it along too soon it would not have finished the race off as well as it did. Trainer C H Yip confirmed the instructions issued and advised that in the circumstances there was the opportunity to ride HO HO STAR with more vigour than Jockey Chadwick did in the early part of the Home Straight. After considering his explanation and also taking into account the early and middle stages of the event were run outside of standard time, the Stewards advised M Chadwick that, in their opinion, he had made an error of judgement in not riding his mount with more vigour in the early part of the Home Straight. MULTIDARLING (H148): Near the 200 Metres was held up behind PODIUM before being shifted to that runner’s inside near the 50 Metres to obtain clear running. WIND SPEEDER (E281): After the event, M L Yeung stated that his instructions were to hold an on-pace position with cover. He said when his mount commenced well and the pace of the event was run outside of standard time WIND SPEEDER led comfortably without being pressured to do so. Sent for sampling post-race. CALIFORNIA ICON (H404): Near the 250 Metres was bumped by COMMANDING MISSILE. After the event, Y L Chung stated that, in his view, CALIFORNIA ICON would be suited by being stepped up in distance. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.