24/01/2018  Shatin  Race 8

After being loaded into the barriers, JADE FORTUNE became fractious and reared. JADE FORTUNE was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, JADE FORTUNE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. JADE FORTUNE began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of MISTER MONTE. IRON BOY and HO HO FEEL bumped heavily at the start. HO HO FEEL then shifted out and bumped ALL YOU NEED. After this, HO HO FEEL and ALL YOU NEED were shifted across behind runners. From wide barriers, KYRUS BOWSER and SILVERFIELD were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Despite being hard ridden in the early stages, TURIN PEARL failed to muster speed and when left racing very wide after passing the winning post on the first occasion was steadied to obtain cover. Because of this, TURIN PEARL raced back in the field. Near the 1300 Metres, ALL YOU NEED got its head up when racing close to the heels of TURIN PEARL, resulting in ALL YOU NEED losing ground when having to be checked away from the heels of that horse. SILVERFIELD, which was following, was hampered in consequence. After the 1300 Metres, MISTER MONTE got its head on the side and lay out. NUCLEAR POWER, which was following, improved of its own accord to be racing tight inside MISTER MONTE, resulting in NUCLEAR POWER being hampered passing the 1200 Metres. At the entrance to the Straight, SILVERFIELD was shifted out away from the heels of IRON BOY which was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FORTUNE PATROL. Then in the early part of the Straight, SILVERFIELD and IRON BOY raced tight as IRON BOY improved into tight running between that horse and ALL YOU NEED. EXPERTO CREDE was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight. Passing the 300 Metres, KYRUS BOWSER was shifted out away from the heels of FRIENDS OF KA YING which was giving ground abruptly. Throughout the race, KHAKI travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Z Purton stated that it was felt that tonight’s races had in the main favoured horses racing in a forward position rather than having to make up a lot of ground, therefore he was asked to try and take up a forward position on FRIENDS OF KA YING and obtain cover if possible. He said after having to ride his mount along in the early stages to cross runners to his inside, FRIENDS OF KA YING was then required to race outside the leader. He said as such he was not able to obtain cover as had been hoped. He said FRIENDS OF KA YING travelled only fairly in the middle stages and then came under heavy pressure after the 500 Metres. He said he rode FRIENDS OF KA YING along, however, the horse did not respond to his riding and commenced to give ground. He added shortly after entering the Straight FRIENDS OF KA YING was momentarily crowded for room between KHAKI and JADE FORTUNE which shifted out. He said however at this time FRIENDS OF KA YING was already a beaten horse and was giving ground abruptly. He said having in mind the manner in which FRIENDS OF KA YING came off the bridle, he felt that all may not have been well with the horse and therefore he eased it down in the Straight. He said having regard to the manner in which FRIENDS OF KA YING raced tonight, he was of the view that the horse did not appreciate being ridden in a forward position. A veterinary inspection of FRIENDS OF KA YING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of FRIENDS OF KA YING, which finished at the rear of the field and was also favourite tonight, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FRIENDS OF KA YING 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 MISTER MONTE immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, MISTER MONTE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of ALL YOU NEED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. FRIENDS OF KA YING, JADE FORTUNE and NUCLEAR POWER were sent for sampling.