07/01/2018  Shatin  Race 6

HAR HAR HEART lifted its front feet off the ground at the start and began awkwardly. PENZANCE and JE PENSE were crowded for room on jumping between GOOD DAYS and PO CHING TREASURE which shifted out. After this, despite being hard ridden, PO CHING TREASURE failed to muster speed. MIGHTY BOY and PROUD SKY bumped at the start. From a wide barrier, GARLIC YEAH was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, MIDNITE PROMISE was unable to maintain momentum and then after the 1700 Metres was steadied to obtain cover when racing very wide. In the Straight, AEROLUMINANCE lay in under pressure. Throughout the race, STAR OF HONG KONG travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. The performances of STAR OF HONG KONG and PENZANCE, which finished tailed out, were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, STAR OF HONG KONG and PENZANCE 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, A Badel stated that at its most recent start GOOD DAYS, which was wearing blinkers for the first time, was reluctant to race in amongst horses and did not travel well until shifted to the outside of runners. He said in today’s race, after initially obtaining a position one horse off the rail behind PENZANCE, GOOD DAYS came off the bridle after the 1200 Metres which required him to ride his mount along for some distance in an endeavour to remain racing close behind PENZANCE. He said having regard to the manner in which GOOD DAYS was travelling and the way it had travelled last start when amongst horses, he elected to shift GOOD DAYS out from behind PENZANCE after the 1000 Metres to see whether GOOD DAYS would travel better. He added although this resulted in the horse having to race three wide and without cover, he believed that remaining racing behind PENZANCE would be to the detriment of GOOD DAYS given its reluctance to maintain its position behind that horse. M Chadwick (HAR HAR HEART) stated that at its most recent start he had been instructed to ride the horse in about 4th or 5th position with cover and after being slow to begin, the horse got back further in the race than had been intended, however, was able to be successful. He said he was asked to ride the horse in a similar manner today in about 4th or 5th position with cover, however, due to the circumstances of the race in the early stages, he was obliged to be more forward to avoid racing wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of HAR HAR HEART immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GARLIC YEAH and MIDNITE PROMISE were sent for sampling.