21/10/2018  Shatin  Race 1

From the outside barrier, HO HO FEEL was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, MIDNITE PROMISE raced tight between FULL OF CHANCES and KING OF MONGOLIA which shifted in marginally. This resulted in KING OF MONGOLIA and MIDNITE PROMISE bumping and causing KING OF MONGOLIA to shift out and inconvenience PO CHING TREASURE. Rounding the Home Turn, HAPPY ROCKY raced in restricted room inside FULL OF CHANCES when improving into tight running inside that horse. Passing the 350 Metres, GOOD DAYS was steadied when crowded for room between LE PANACHE and PO CHING TREASURE which at this time was attempting to shift to the outside of KING OF MONGOLIA which shifted out marginally before being taken out by HO HO FEEL. In this incident, GOOD DAYS became unbalanced when bumped by PO CHING TREASURE. PO CHING TREASURE was then shifted to the inside of KING OF MONGOLIA to obtain clear running. Close to the finishing line, PO CHING TREASURE was awkwardly placed inside the heels of LE PANACHE (D Whyte) which shifted in under pressure, requiring D Whyte to stop riding and straighten LE PANACHE to prevent that horse from shifting in further and causing interference to PO CHING TREASURE. Because of this, LE PANACHE was not ridden out all the way to the end of the race as it otherwise would be. The performance of MIDNITE PROMISE, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MIDNITE PROMISE 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 MIDNITE PROMISE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that he was given similar instructions on how to ride PO CHING TREASURE as was the case at its last start when successful. He said those instructions were to obtain a forward position and lead the race if circumstances permitted. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode PO CHING TREASURE aggressively for some distance in the early stages, however, PO CHING TREASURE did not show sufficient speed to be able to cross a considerable number of horses which were positioned to its inside. He said for this reason, passing the winning post on the first occasion, he steadied PO CHING TREASURE to obtain cover as he did not believe it was in the best interests for the horse to continue to be ridden along. He said this resulted in PO CHING TREASURE racing much further back in the field than had been intended. He added, despite being ridden back in the field, PO CHING TREASURE was still able to finish off the race strongly. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of FULL OF CHANCES, U Rispoli stated that as the horse was successful at its last start when ridden in a forward position, he was asked to ride the horse in a similar manner today. He said he had to ride FULL OF CHANCES along for some distance in the early stages to obtain a forward position and it was not until after passing the winning post on the first occasion that he was able to clear GOOD DAYS to race closer to the rail. He said as there were horses being ridden to hold their position around FULL OF CHANCES, he elected to allow those horses to cross and was able to obtain a trailing position behind ROMANTIC JOURNEY in the early stages. He added FULL OF CHANCES travelled satisfactorily in the early and middle stages and quickened well rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight. He said after momentarily racing in restricted room between MIDNITE PROMISE which was giving ground and ROMANTIC JOURNEY passing the 400 Metres, FULL OF CHANCES came under pressure and then did not finish off the race. He said given that this was the first occasion that FULL OF CHANCES had raced over 2000 Metres, the only explanation he could offer for the horse’s run was that it may have preferred being ridden off the speed to see whether it was able to run out the distance strongly. A veterinary inspection of FULL OF CHANCES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of FULL OF CHANCES, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FULL OF CHANCES will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LE PANACHE, HO HO FEEL and HAPPY ROCKY were sent for sampling.