14/09/2025  Shatin  Race 4

SUGAR BALL (H394): Sent for sampling post-race. TOP TIME (K006): Bumped shortly after the start. When questioned regarding his riding on the Home Turn and the reason he shifted to the inside of RAGING RAPIDS to continue into clear running, K De Melo stated that when positioned close to RAGING RAPIDS he felt that near the 550 Metres he would have had to steady his mount in an attempt to come to that runner’s outside. He said with BIG STRIDE being positioned directly to his outside and WINNING MACHINE racing in advance of that runner he felt his better option was to continue to the inside where he was able to follow the fancied runners ROMAN CROWN and BETTER AND BETTER into the race. He added that after improving to the inside of RAGING RAPIDS, TOP TIME then became held up for clear running between the 300 Metres and after the 100 Metres where it then finished the race off strongly. The Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey De Melo in the circumstances were reasonable. Sent for sampling post-race. RAGING RAPIDS (J228): Bumped shortly after the start. SECOND TO NONE (H319): Bumped shortly after the start. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BIG STRIDE (K194): No report. BETTER AND BETTER (K277): Bumped shortly after the start. Over the concluding stages made contact with ROMAN CROWN due to both runners shifting ground. Approaching the finish BETTER AND BETTER then raced in restricted room between TOP TIME and ROMAN CROWN which shifted out slightly. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Sent for sampling post-race. DASHING DRAGON (J464): On jumping was bumped by ROMAN CROWN which shifted in. Briefly held up near the 300 Metres. Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that the riding of J Orman, 7th placegetter, over the concluding stages did not affect the horse’s finishing position, he was nonetheless reminded of his obligation to ensure that he fully rides his mounts out to the finish of the race. ROMAN CROWN (J456): Shifted in on jumping and was bumped. Over the concluding stages made contact with BETTER AND BETTER due to both runners shifting ground. BILLION TWO (K212): Jumped awkwardly. Raced very wide and without cover for the majority of the event. The performance of BILLION TWO, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BILLION TWO will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. WINNING MACHINE (K239): Raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. DEAL COMPLETED (J378): Bumped shortly after the start. After the event H T Mo advised that he was instructed to go forward. He said DEAL COMPLETED failed to respond to his riding in the Home Straight and weakened. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. The performance of DEAL COMPLETED, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, DEAL COMPLETED will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination.