01/10/2018  Shatin  Race 1

HAPPY HOUR began only fairly. EPTIWINS shifted in at the start and bumped OSCAR MAGIC. BUMBLE BABY and LUNAR ZEPHYR bumped heavily on jumping. Shortly after the start, RUN MOOCHI was steadied away from the heels of MANFUL STAR which shifted out. Passing the 700 Metres, EPTIWINS shifted in away from the heels of NAMJONG NAMJONG and bumped OSCAR MAGIC, causing EPTIWINS to become badly unbalanced and shift back out towards the heels of NAMJONG NAMJONG. After this, EPTIWINS, when racing greenly, again shifted in abruptly away from NAMJONG NAMJONG and bumped OSCAR MAGIC, causing both horses to become unbalanced. Then near the 500 Metres, EPTIWINS was steadied and shifted to the outside of NAMJONG NAMJONG after momentarily racing tight between that horse and OSCAR MAGIC. Passing the 700 Metres, RUN MOOCHI was awkwardly placed behind HAPPY HOUR. Near the 150 Metres, RUMBA DELAGO shifted in abruptly and inconvenienced RUN MOOCHI. Apprentice H T Mo, the rider of RUMBA DELAGO, changed his whip into his right hand after correcting RUMBA DELAGO. Passing the 100 Metres, ROMANTIC CHEF shifted in and brushed LET’S COME BACK. LET’S COME BACK then raced tight between ROMANTIC CHEF and MANFUL STAR. In this incident, MANFUL STAR was bumped by LET’S COME BACK. Passing the 50 Metres, ROMANTIC CHEF again shifted out and bumped LET’S COME BACK, causing both horses to become unbalanced. Throughout the race, LUNAR ZEPHYR raced with its head on the side and lay in. When questioned regarding his riding of EPTIWINS over the final 400 Metres, T H So stated that after racing greenly in the early and middle stages, he was able to shift EPTIWINS to the outside of NAMJONG NAMJONG and commenced to improve his position towards the outside rail. He said although the leaders were some distance in advance of EPTIWINS, he noticed that STRATHALLAN, LUNAR ZEPHYR and BUMBLE BABY were racing side by side and as the opportunity was available to shift to the inside of ROMANTIC CHEF into running either between that horse and LET’S COME BACK or further to the inside of LET’S COME BACK and outside MANFUL STAR, he felt that it would be best to pursue these runs rather than continuing to improve to the outside of the field and risk being held up over the latter stages of the race as EPTIWINS was commencing to finish off the race well. He added passing the 200 Metres he directed EPTIWINS to the inside of LET’S COME BACK as a clear run was available between that horse and MANFUL STAR. He said as he was improving into the run, both MANFUL STAR and LET’S COME BACK shifted ground which resulted in EPTIWINS being badly held up for clear running until passing the 50 Metres. T H So was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had erred in being too premature in shifting to the inside of ROMANTIC CHEF as at this stage there was considerable ground to be made up to the outside of that horse before EPTIWINS would have been required to find clear running amongst the leaders of the race. He was told to ensure that he rides his mounts in such a manner so as to avail himself of the opportunity to improve into clear running wherever circumstances permit. ROMANTIC CHEF, BUMBLE BABY and MANFUL STAR were sent for sampling.