22/01/2017  Shatin  Race 8

KEEN VENTURE was crowded for room on jumping between DRAGON GENERAL and MALMSTEEN which shifted out. ROYAL ELITE was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Also from wide barriers, BACK IN BLACK and WATER DIVINER were steadied in the early stages and shifted across to obtain a position closer to the rail. After the 1000 Metres, MALMSTEEN commenced to race fiercely and got its head up when being steadied to obtain cover behind PERPETUAL TREASURE. Near the 700 Metres, BACK IN BLACK and HAMMER KING raced tight. For some distance approaching and passing the 500 Metres, EXPERTO CREDE raced very tight between WATER DIVINER and KEEN VENTURE which got its head on the side and hung out. Then at the entrance to the Straight, EXPERTO CREDE was badly crowded for room between WATER DIVINER and KEEN VENTURE which shifted out abruptly when hanging out. The Stewards were satisfied that B Prebble, the rider of KEEN VENTURE, had taken appropriate measures to prevent his mount from shifting out and accordingly no further action was taken. When questioned, B Prebble stated that after this KEEN VENTURE continued to give him a difficult ride. He said after the 300 Metres a run presented itself between HAMMER KING and WATER DIVINER and at this time he was racing to the inside of the heels of WATER DIVINER. He said having regard to the manner in which KEEN VENTURE hung out during the race, he was reluctant to place his mount under strong riding at this time as it was still hanging out and he was concerned that the horse would shift out abruptly across the heels of WATER DIVINER. He added near the 250 Metres he was able to have KEEN VENTURE racing more tractably and placed the horse under pressure to improve between HAMMER KING and WATER DIVINER, however, after the 200 Metres WATER DIVINER drifted in under pressure and he was not able to maintain the position to the inside of that horse. He said he consequently directed KEEN VENTURE to the outside of WATER DIVINER. A veterinary inspection of KEEN VENTURE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The racing manners of KEEN VENTURE were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, KEEN VENTURE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial around a bend. Near the 200 Metres, HAMMER KING, which was giving ground, got its head on the side and shifted in across the heels of BACK IN BLACK. Then a short distance later, ROYAL ELITE, which was closing off the race fairly, was crowded for room between HAMMER KING which shifted in and SILLY BUDDIES which, when giving ground, was momentarily taken out by DRAGON GENERAL. In this incident, HAMMER KING was bumped by ROYAL ELITE and shifted out towards the heels of KEEN VENTURE which was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WATER DIVINER. Throughout the race, SILLY BUDDIES travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C Schofield stated that after being badly hampered approaching and rounding the Home Turn, he took some time to balance EXPERTO CREDE which was having its first race start in Hong Kong. He said it required longer than would normally be the case to balance the horse due to the significant interference that it sustained at a critical stage of the race. He said however that after the 300 Metres he was able to commence to ride EXPERTO CREDE along and the horse then closed off the race fairly. C Schofield was advised that whilst the Stewards acknowledged that EXPERTO CREDE was badly hampered rounding the Home Turn, nonetheless he would be expected to place his mounts under sufficient pressure at the earliest possible opportunity. When questioned regarding the improved performance of LUCKY EVER, Trainer C S Shum stated that the horse’s most recent two starts had been very disappointing when it wanted to hang out. He said although the horse had previously raced successfully with a crossed nose band, the reports that he received from the riders of LUCKY EVER after these two starts indicated to him that the horse may be resenting the crossed nose band and for this reason he removed this piece of equipment when the horse barrier trialed as required in late December. He said in this barrier trial LUCKY EVER performed particularly well without the crossed nose band applied and in order to improve the horse’s fitness and ensure that A Badel was familiar with the horse, he decided to barrier trial the horse again on 13 January 2017 without the crossed nose band applied. He added LUCKY EVER again performed particularly well in this barrier trial and, in his opinion, today’s improved performance was attributable to that piece of gear being removed. A veterinary inspection of HAMMER KING immediately following the race revealed that the horse was displaying an irregular heart rhythm and an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, HAMMER KING will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LUCKY EVER and D B PIN were sent for sampling.