25/02/2018  Shatin  Race 6

ROYAL PREROGATIVE was withdrawn on 22.2.18 by order of the Stewards (stable transfer) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter PRIMERO (Apprentice M F Poon). TOP SCORE began only fairly. Shortly after the start, AMBITIOUS PINS was steadied and lost ground when crowded for room between TOP SCORE and ROYALE ELEGANCE which shifted in after being bumped by KA YING BRILLIANCE which was taken in by JIN JIN KING. Also shortly after the start, CELESTIAL NOVA was bumped by MULTIGOGO which shifted out. From a wide barrier, GREAT TREASURE was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Despite being hard ridden in the early stages, PRIMERO failed to muster speed. In the early stages, CELESTIAL NOVA got its head up when travelling keenly. After being ridden along in the early stages, E MASTER was shifted in behind runners to obtain cover after failing to show early speed. GREAT TREASURE lost its left front plate passing the 1100 Metres. KA YING BRILLIANCE travelled keenly after the 1100 Metres. Shortly after entering the Straight, ROYALE ELEGANCE was awkwardly placed inside KA YING BRILLIANCE which lay in. Approaching the 300 Metres, ADONIS raced in restricted room between PRIMERO and JIN JIN KING which shifted out. After the 300 Metres, KA YING BRILLIANCE was bumped by ROYALE ELEGANCE which shifted to the outside of PRIMERO. Passing the 200 Metres, ADONIS was steadied away from the heels of SONIC FIGHTER (K C Leung) which shifted out to obtain clear running. K C Leung was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground. Passing the 200 Metres, ROYALE ELEGANCE was momentarily crowded for room between SMILING CHARM and PRIMERO which shifted out marginally. Also passing the 200 Metres, AMBITIOUS PINS raced tight inside GREAT TREASURE which got its head on the side and lay in. Throughout the race, THE SHOW travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, N Rawiller (SMILING CHARM) stated that he was asked to ride his horse in a midfield position with cover from the outside barrier if possible. He said SMILING CHARM began very well and when THE SHOW, which was drawn to the inside of SMILING CHARM, was being ridden along in the early stages to take up a forward position, he commenced to steady SMILING CHARM with a view to obtaining cover. He said he shifted his mount across towards the main body of the field and because of the makeup of the race he was left racing very wide. He added he steadied SMILING CHARM after the 900 Metres to see if he could obtain a trailing position behind KA YING BRILLIANCE, however, SMILING CHARM was still left racing wide and without cover. After the race, U Rispoli stated that during the race KA YING BRILLIANCE travelled well behind PRIMERO and he expected the horse to finish off the race strongly after being shifted to the outside of that horse rounding the Home Turn. He said however that KA YING BRILLIANCE immediately came under pressure and lay in and then was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of KA YING BRILLIANCE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of TOP SCORE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that CELESTIAL NOVA had bled from both nostrils and THE SHOW was lame in its left front leg and was also making an abnormal respiratory noise. Before being allowed to race again, THE SHOW will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SONIC FIGHTER, GREAT TREASURE and ROYALE ELEGANCE were sent for sampling.