19/02/2017  Shatin  Race 6

SPICY KAKA bounded in the air at the start and consequently lost ground. HASTILY FEET was slow to begin. AMRITSARIA lost its left front plate at the start. After initially being ridden along, SUPER FORM was steadied shortly after the start to obtain a position with cover. Approaching the 1500 Metres, AMRITSARIA was awkwardly placed close to the heels of JE PENSE which shifted out marginally away from the heels of BEAUTY LOVE. A short distance later, AMRITSARIA, which was continuing to travel keenly, was steadied away from the heels of JE PENSE which shifted back in. Rounding the Home Turn, JE PENSE and ARGENTUM raced tight as JE PENSE shifted out into clear running. SUPER FORM and AMRITSARIA were held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight. Approaching the 300 Metres, AEROLUMINANCE was shifted out away from the heels of BEAUTY LOVE after being awkwardly placed behind that horse. This resulted in AEROLUMINANCE and GENTRY racing tight for some distance. Passing the 200 Metres, AEROLUMINANCE was steadied when unable to maintain its position inside GENTRY which shifted in marginally under pressure. SUPER FORM was held up for clear running from passing the 200 Metres until approaching the 100 Metres and over the concluding stages raced tight between GENTRY and PREMIUM CHAMPION, both of which shifted marginal ground. Because of this, both PREMIUM CHAMPION and GENTRY were not ridden out all the way to the end of the race. Throughout the race, ARGENTUM travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground and finished tailed out. A veterinary inspection of ARGENTUM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of ARGENTUM was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ARGENTUM 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 regarding the performance of BEAUTY LOVE, Z Purton stated that he was able to obtain a forward position in the early stages without having to make too much use of the horse. He said when initially ARGENTUM and later PREMIUM CHAMPION improved their positions outside BEAUTY LOVE, his mount would not settle quite as well as he had hoped. He said the horse was not over-racing at this time but was still inclined to travel somewhat keenly. He said the tempo of the race in the middle stages was faster than he had hoped and whilst he believed that BEAUTY LOVE would run out the distance of 1800 Metres of today’s race, he felt that the horse required the race to be run at a more leisurely tempo than that of this event as it had previously performed well in races that were run more slowly than today’s race. He said nonetheless BEAUTY LOVE was very disappointing after coming under heavy pressure at the entrance to the Straight, failing to respond to his riding and weakening out of the race, particularly over the final 200 Metres. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY LOVE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of BEAUTY LOVE, which finished at the tail of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BEAUTY LOVE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, D Whyte stated that after beginning awkwardly SPICY KAKA was able to obtain a good position just behind the eventual winner BEST EFFORT. He said SPICY KAKA travelled well in the early and middle stages, however, after being placed under pressure rounding the Home Turn did not respond to his riding and did not finish off the race. He said the manner in which SPICY KAKA responded in the Straight indicated to him that the horse may be suffering from some internal issues. A veterinary inspection of SPICY KAKA immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SPICY KAKA will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. BEAUTY LOVE, BEST EFFORT and ROCK THE TREE were sent for sampling.