06/01/2019  Shatin  Race 7

After being loaded, TRAVEL SUCCESSOR got down in the barriers and then proceeded to get out under the front gates riderless. TRAVEL SUCCESSOR was able to be quickly captured. Acting on veterinary advice that TRAVEL SUCCESSOR was not suitable to race, the horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, TRAVEL SUCCESSOR will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. DEAL MAKER began very awkwardly and lost ground. GIFT OF LIFELINE stumbled at the start, shifted out and made heavy contact with SUPER LEADER, causing both horses to become unbalanced. REAL GIANT began only fairly. From wide barriers, MICKEY RICH and DR RACE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Making the turn near the 700 Metres, BOND ELEGANCE was awkwardly placed outside the heels of HAPPY HAPPY STAR when being steadied to obtain a position with cover behind that horse. In the early part of the Straight, DEAL MAKER was directed out abruptly to the outside of DR RACE to obtain clear running. Throughout the race, HAPPY HAPPY STAR travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, K Teetan (STAR SUPERIOR) stated that he was asked to utilize the horse’s inside barrier and have the horse in a more forward position than was the case when it drew a wider barrier at its last start when successful. He said it was felt that the principal chances in the race would obtain a forward position and it would be in the best interests of STAR SUPERIOR if the horse did not have to give away too much ground. He said after riding his mount positively in the early stages, he then steadied STAR SUPERIOR in order to obtain cover behind WINNING SUPREME. He said he felt that GOLDEN EFFORT would show more speed than it did today and he may obtain a trailing position behind that horse which would have resulted in STAR SUPERIOR racing in about a midfield position. He said however when GOLDEN EFFORT did not show as much pace in the early stages, this resulted in STAR SUPERIOR racing behind the eventual winner WINNING SUPREME and in a more forward position than had been anticipated. When questioned regarding the performance of SUPER LEADER, Z Purton stated that, in his opinion, the horse was somewhat disappointing in today’s race. He said after travelling keenly in the middle stages and getting its head up when awkwardly placed behind GOLDEN EFFORT after the 700 Metres, SUPER LEADER travelled satisfactorily, however, he was unable to prevent BOND ELEGANCE from improving its position around SUPER LEADER rounding the Home Turn. He said SUPER LEADER had some difficulty obtaining clear running behind BOND ELEGANCE and HAPPY HAPPY STAR in the Straight which resulted in him having to momentarily steady SUPER LEADER near the 200 Metres. He said, in his opinion, SUPER LEADER was not travelling well enough to improve its position at this time such that the horse was a realistic chance of placing in the race. He added after the race he recommended to connections that they consider removing the blinkers from SUPER LEADER and stepping the horse up in distance to see if it would relax better which would allow it the opportunity to close off the race stronger than it did today. A veterinary inspection of SUPER LEADER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of GOLDEN EFFORT immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, GOLDEN EFFORT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SUPER LEADER, WINNING SUPREME and MICKEY RICH were sent for sampling.