23/02/2025  Shatin  Race 1

TOP PEAK (H441): Bumped after the 500 Metres. After the event, C L Chau stated that after racing wide and without cover for the majority of the event his mount came under pressure in the Home Straight. He added after being briefly crowded between MANAPHY and HAPPY SHOOTER near the 200 Metres TOP PEAK failed to finish the race off thereafter. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, TOP PEAK will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ETALON OR (J273): When questioned, A Badel stated that the instructions were to take up a forward position but to find cover if possible. He said in the early stages when caught wide he allowed ETALON OR to stride forward but when FLYING WROTE did not cross to the rail he was obliged to race wide and without cover. When questioned regarding his riding in the early part of the Home Straight and as to whether there was an opportunity to place his mount under full pressure sooner, A Badel stated that as ETALON OR had endured a wide run and was carrying 132 lbs, he was reluctant to place his mount under full pressure too soon as he was mindful that its effort in the early stages may have an impact on its ability to finish the race off. He said as a result between the 400 Metres and the 300 Metres he encouraged ETALON OR into the event where it travelled reasonably well. He added near the 250 Metres he then placed the horse under full pressure where it initially responded to his riding before the winner CARRYON SMILING was able to improve past his mount near the 100 Metres. Trainer P F Yiu confirmed the instructions were to take up a slightly more forward position but was of the opinion that Jockey Badel could have placed pressure on his mount sooner in the Home Straight. After considering his explanation, the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Badel were reasonable in the circumstances. EXCEL WONGCHOY (J194): From the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. FLYING WROTE (J290): Bumped shortly after the start. LESLIE (E471): No report. DREAMING WINNER (K046): On jumping knuckled over, became unbalanced and shortly after was crowded by VIEW ALL THINGS which shifted in. After the event, L Hewitson stated that after being held up for clear running between the 400 Metres and the 250 Metres his mount finished the race off in a one-paced manner thereafter. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SHAMUS STORM (K031): After being placed in the starting gates reared and got its front legs over the front gates momentarily. Was removed from the barriers and passed suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, SHAMUS STORM will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. Shortly after the start bumped with DREAMING WINNER and became unbalanced. After the event, A Atzeni stated that after jumping fairly and being hampered at the start he was obliged to make use of his mount in the early stages to hold an on-pace position. He said as a result SHAMUS STORM did not finish the race off in the Home Straight. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Sent for sampling post-race. MANAPHY (K075): Leaving the 500 Metres was steadied when it endeavoured to obtain a narrow run between HAPPY UNIVERSE and TOP PEAK. In this incident, MANAPHY made contact with TOP PEAK. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. Before being allowed to race again, MANAPHY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HAPPY SHOOTER (J427): Jumped only fairly and shortly after the start became unbalanced when crowded between FLYING WROTE and CARRYON SMILING. Approaching the 800 Metres commenced to race keenly and lay out when being steadied away from MANAPHY. Near the 200 Metres raced tight to the inside of LESLIE which shifted in and away from EXCEL WONGCHOY. HAPPY UNIVERSE (J533): No report. LAKESHORE HERO (J288): No report. MAX QUE (J514): Jumped awkwardly. In the early stages raced keenly. Between the 450 Metres and the 300 Metres was held up for clear running. Sent for sampling post-race. VIEW ALL THINGS (K101): Shifted in at the start, made contact with DREAMING WINNER and shortly after was crowded by LAKESHORE HERO which shifted in before being corrected by its rider. After the 300 Metres had some difficulty obtaining clear running when being shifted to the outside of SHAMUS STORM to obtain clear running. CARRYON SMILING (J392): Bumped shortly after the start and became unbalanced. From a wide barrier was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Between the 450 Metres and the 350 Metres was held up for clear running. When questioned regarding the improved performance, Trainer W Y So stated that at the horse’s last start it had failed to run out a strong 1600 Metres when it obtained a forward position from an inside barrier. He said following that run he sent the horse to his Conghua stable where it barrier trialed well on 14 February 2025. He said as a result he had expected CARRYON SMILING to run reasonably well today. He said he also issued the same instructions today to Jockey K De Melo as he did to the horse’s rider on 29 December 2024 when the horse ran well when ridden in a conservative manner from the outside barrier and this, in his opinion, was the principal reason for the horse’s improvement today. Sent for sampling post-race.