11/09/2016  Shatin  Race 7

Trainer D Cruz was fined the sum of $3,000 for presenting HEALTH WISE in the Parade Ring with the incorrect bit. The bit was changed prior to the horse racing. AMAZING ALWAYS shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of HIT A HOME RUN which became unbalanced. CIRCUIT FORTUNE shifted out at the start and hampered HEALTH WISE. SUPERNATURAL and GOLD DRAGON bumped at the start. In the early stages, RED PEONY travelled keenly. HEALTH WISE lost its left hind plate near the 1200 Metres. The performance of HEALTH WISE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HEALTH WISE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, B Prebble (AZTEC EMPIRE) stated that, from the outside barrier, he had been instructed to obtain a forward position with cover if possible as the connections did not want the horse pushed along to obtain the lead given that there were a number of horses which had been ridden in forward positions in their previous races. He said in the early stages he attempted to shift AZTEC EMPIRE across to obtain a position with cover behind the speed, however, because of the make-up of the field in the early stages, AZTEC EMPIRE was left racing wide, nonetheless he was able to initially find some cover behind EQUITY DOCTRINE. He said he did give consideration to going forward on AZTEC EMPIRE approaching the 1000 Metres as the tempo of the race was not strong, however, as he did this, ABLE DEED, the leader of the race, shifted away from the rail which resulted in UNIQUE HAPPIEST being taken wider. He added for this reason he did not believe that it was appropriate to ride forward as AZTEC EMPIRE may still have been required to race wide as it was unlikely that the leaders would hand up and allow AZTEC EMPIRE to obtain the lead. A veterinary inspection of HEALTH WISE and HIT A HOME RUN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ABLE DEED and UNIQUE HAPPIEST were sent for sampling.