29/12/2018  Shatin  Race 3

Shortly after the start, from a wide barrier, BLOOMING SPIRIT was steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. From a wide barrier, JOY MASTER was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. When being steadied from the outside barrier to obtain cover, PEGASUS ELITE got its head up on a number of occasions in the early stages. Passing the 1000 Metres, PEGASUS ELITE again got its head up when being steadied to shift in behind GALLANT SPIRIT. After the 800 Metres, MY FAMILY was left racing wide and without cover. Also after the 800 Metres, when being steadied to obtain cover behind COURAGEOUS DRAGON, MAGIC SUCCESS travelled keenly. After the 600 Metres, MY FAMILY got its head on the side and lay out. Approaching the 500 Metres, BLOOMING SPIRIT raced tight outside CHARIZARD as that horse was taken out by JOY MASTER. CHARIZARD had some difficulty obtaining clear running for some distance after the 350 Metres and approaching the 200 Metres was shifted to the inside of JOY MASTER to obtain a clear run. When questioned regarding the performance of HAINAN STAR, S de Sousa stated that, from a wide barrier, he had to make some use of the horse to cross runners to his inside in the early stages. He said after being able to shift in to race outside COURAGEOUS DRAGON passing the 900 Metres, HAINAN STAR then travelled keenly and would not relax as he had hoped. He said nonetheless HAINAN STAR was very disappointing in the manner in which it came under pressure at the entrance to the Straight and then weakened noticeably thereafter. He said, given the manner in which HAINAN STAR weakened out of the race, he is of the view that the horse may be better suited by being ridden more patiently to allow it the opportunity to relax better than it did on this occasion. The performance of HAINAN STAR, a favourite runner in today’s race and which finished last, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HAINAN STAR 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 HAINAN STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The Stewards will interview Mr D J Hall, the trainer of SPEEDY DRAGON, regarding the improved performance of that horse on a date to be fixed. Mr Hall was not present at today’s racemeeting. After the race, it was reported that PEGASUS ELITE had bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of MAGIC SUCCESS immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. CHARIZARD, SPEEDY DRAGON and CHAIRMAN LO were sent for sampling. <1/1/2019 29 December 2018 Sha Tin Racemeeting – Race 3 (293)>The Stewards today questioned Mr D J Hall, the trainer of SPEEDY DRAGON, regarding the improved performance of that horse in this race. Mr Hall said after being ridden along in its recent races to obtain a forward position, the horse had not been finishing off its races and had been disappointing. He said SPEEDY DRAGON had always worked well, however, its racing performances had not reflected the quality of its work. He said following its most recent start over 1400 Metres, Jockey K C Leung suggested to remove the blinkers from SPEEDY DRAGON and to drop the horse back in trip to allow it to relax better. He said in this race he instructed the rider not to make use of SPEEDY DRAGON in the early stages and thought the horse would be positioned closer to midfield than it was. He added however whilst the horse was still able to take up a relatively forward position, it was not ridden along to do so and because of this, in his opinion, it was able to finish off its race better than had been of late.