08/01/2017  Shatin  Race 1

At declaration time, K C Ng was declared as the rider of both MEDIC SWORDSMAN and FRESH AND FRESH. It was established that K C Ng had a firm commitment to ride FRESH AND FRESH. As such, the Stewards permitted Apprentice H T Mo to be substituted as the rider of MEDIC SWORDSMAN. For this declaration error, Trainer D Cruz was fined $2,000. SWEET BEAN was slow to begin. GORGEOUS AGAIN began awkwardly, shifted out on jumping and bumped MEDIC SWORDSMAN. After this, GORGEOUS AGAIN was ridden along, however, failed to muster speed and approaching the 1500 Metres was shifted across behind runners. Shortly after the start, CASH COURIER shifted in and bumped LUCKY PLACE. From the outside barrier, DANEWIN EXPRESS was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After initially being ridden along in the early stages, MEDIC SWORDSMAN was bumped by DANEWIN EXPRESS passing the 1100 Metres and was then shifted across behind runners. After crossing to the lead near the 1400 Metres, POWER DRAGON proved very difficult to settle in the lead and would not relax despite the efforts of its rider. Passing the 1100 Metres, FANTASTICLIFE was eased away from the heels of DRAGON GLORY which shifted in. An inquiry was opened into interference suffered by GORGEOUS AGAIN approaching the 900 Metres. It was established that near the 1000 Metres CASH COURIER (S de Sousa) was initially clear of GORGEOUS AGAIN to shift in in front of that horse, however, after this point as CASH COURIER was shifting in, GORGEOUS AGAIN improved its position to be racing inside the heels of CASH COURIER. PERFECT TIMING, which was following, was shifted out away from the heels of GORGEOUS AGAIN in consequence. DANEWIN EXPRESS, which was following PERFECT TIMING, got its head up when also inconvenienced. S de Sousa was severely reprimanded and told that whilst there were some circumstances to this incident, nonetheless he has an obligation to ensure that he is properly clear of other horses when shifting ground. After the 900 Metres, MEDIC SWORDSMAN was left racing wide and without cover. FANTASTICLIFE lost its right front plate after the 800 Metres. At the entrance to the Straight, GORGEOUS AGAIN was momentarily steadied away from the heels of CASH COURIER which, when being shifted to the outside of LUCKY PLACE to obtain clear running, was taken wider by that horse which shifted out. A veterinary inspection of FANTASTICLIFE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea and also found the horse to have sustained a small cut to the outside of the lower right front cannon.. Before being allowed to race again, FANTASTICLIFE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GORGEOUS AGAIN, BEST EFFORT and CASH COURIER were sent for sampling.