11/02/2017  Shatin  Race 4

LOTUS STRIKES BACK and ENORMOUS HONOUR bumped at the start. Despite being aggressively ridden in the early stages, MASTER CERAMIBO and WAH MAY BABY failed to muster speed. From wide barriers, ASSOCIATION FANS and SILLY BUDDIES were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. MY GIFT was left racing wide and without cover near the 1100 Metres. For some distance after the 900 Metres, LITTERATEUR (O Doleuze) and VANILLA (Z Purton) bumped as VANILLA was shifted out to follow MY GIFT and O Doleuze attempted to hold his position. Z Purton was advised that whilst the Stewards appreciate competitive riding and that the contact between the horses on this occasion was not such that the Rules had been breached, he nonetheless must exercise more care when shifting ground which results in pressure being placed on other horses. Passing the 600 Metres, MASTER CERAMIBO became unbalanced on a number of occasions when bumped by LOTUS STRIKES BACK which got its head on the side and lay in. Passing the 200 Metres, LOTUS STRIKES BACK shifted out abruptly away from the heels of HERO LOOK which shifted out under pressure. Over the concluding stages, ENORMOUS HONOUR was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SUPER MAN which drifted out under pressure Consequently, ENORMOUS HONOUR was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. Close to the finishing line, DEJA VU and RED MARVEL raced tight. The performances of MY GIFT and LITTERATEUR, which both finished tailed out, were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MY GIFT and LITTERATEUR 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 of HERO LOOK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. VANILLA and RED MARVEL were sent for sampling.