10/02/2018  Shatin  Race 3

EVEREST was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, EVEREST will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. BULLISH GLORY and HO HO FEEL were steadied at the start and shifted across behind runners. Approaching and passing the 1400 Metres, GENERAL DINO travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover. DIAMOND DRAGON travelled keenly in the middle stages. Approaching the 700 Metres, KIRAM shifted away from the heels of GENERAL DINO after being awkwardly placed behind that horse. After this, KIRAM was left racing wide and without cover and then approaching the 600 Metres was taken wider still when GENERAL DINO shifted out from behind GOLDEN SUN. Approaching the 500 Metres, BULLISH GLORY was shifted out away from the heels of SMILING PRIDE which shifted out. Passing the 500 Metres, CALCULATION shifted out and brushed the hindquarters of KIRAM. CALCULATION then became unbalanced and shifted in and in doing so made contact with DIAMOND DRAGON which became badly unbalanced and shifted in, inconveniencing HO HO FEEL. At the entrance to the Straight, CALCULATION again shifted out and brushed KIRAM. When questioned, J Moreira (CALCULATION) stated that after being placed in the barriers his mount stood well until just prior to the start being effected at which time the horse became nervous. He said then, as the start was effected, CALCULATION sat back and then bounded in the air before stumbling on landing. He said this resulted in the horse losing a considerable amount of ground and being required to race back in the field which is contrary to the horse’s usual racing pattern. He said because CALCULATION was so far back in the field, it was not available to him then to try to obtain a more forward position and consequently he shifted CALCULATION across to race on the rail. He said in the middle stages CALCULATION would not settle and got its head up on a number of occasions. He said making the turn near the 900 Metres CALCULATION was checked away from the heels of DIAMOND DRAGON and then passing the 800 Metres got its head up when again proving very difficult to settle and having to check away from the heels of DIAMOND DRAGON. He said because of the racing manners of CALCULATION he shifted the horse away from behind DIAMOND DRAGON approaching the 700 Metres. He said after racing tight between DIAMOND DRAGON and KIRAM rounding the Home Turn, he was able to shift CALCULATION to the outside of GENERAL DINO, however, CALCULATION immediately got its head on the side and lay in behind that horse. He added for the remainder of the race, despite his efforts, CALCULATION continued to lay in, resulting in the horse being awkwardly placed outside the heels of GENERAL DINO and proving difficult to properly test. A veterinary inspection of CALCULATION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The barrier and racing manners of CALCULATION, favourite for today’s race, were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, CALCULATION will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial around a bend and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CALCULATION, AGREE and DIAMOND DRAGON were sent for sampling.