06/01/2019  Shatin  Race 10

CHARITY GO (Z Purton) was crowded for room on jumping between CLASSIC BEAUTY and ENRICHMENT which was taken out by EASY GO EASY WIN which shifted out despite the efforts of its rider. Z Purton stated that this incident, together with the slow tempo of the race, in his opinion, resulted in the horse not finishing off the race as strongly as had been anticipated. From wide barriers, MONGOLIAN KING, TIME TO CELEBRATE and PIKACHU were all steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 1400 Metres, HEAVENLY THOUGHT got its head up on a number of occasions when being steadied to obtain a trailing position behind FURORE. For some distance approaching and passing the 1400 Metres, CHARITY GO got its head up on a number of occasions when proving very difficult to settle. After the 700 Metres, TIME TO CELEBRATE was awkwardly placed behind HELENE LEADINGSTAR which shifted ground when awkwardly placed close to the heels of TIGRE DU TERRE. At the entrance to the Straight, ENRICHMENT and CHARITY GO raced tight as ENRICHMENT attempted to shift to the outside of EASY GO EASY WIN. For a short distance after this, ENRICHMENT had difficulty obtaining clear running. SICHUAN DAR was held up for clear running passing the 200 Metres and then was steadied passing the 100 Metres when disappointed for running between HEAVENLY THOUGHT and CLASSIC BEAUTY. After this, SICHUAN DAR was awkwardly placed behind HEAVENLY THOUGHT and consequently was not able to be fully tested. When questioned, K Teetan stated that after being ridden for speed at its only other race start in Hong Kong, HELENE LEADINGSTAR did not finish off the race as anticipated after travelling keenly in the early and middle stages. He said subsequent to that race he had ridden HELENE LEADINGSTAR in a barrier trial and the horse was ridden quietly in this trial to see if it would finish off the trial. He said in today’s race he was asked to ride HELENE LEADINGSTAR quietly to ensure the horse did not over-race. He said after being awkwardly placed outside the heels of KA YING STAR shortly after the start, HELENE LEADINGSTAR commenced to travel keenly when racing in restricted room between TIGRE DU TERRE and CHARITY GO which was travelling keenly. He said rather than ride along HELENE LEADINGSTAR to maintain its position between these horses and risk the horse commencing to over-race, he elected to steady HELENE LEADINGSTAR and obtain a trailing position behind TIGRE DU TERRE. He said due to the slow tempo of the race in the early and middle stages HELENE LEADINGSTAR would not relax and travelled too keenly and on a number of occasions raced close to the heels of TIGRE DU TERRE. He added after momentarily racing in restricted room at the entrance to the Straight between TIGRE DU TERRE and TIME TO CELEBRATE, HELENE LEADINGSTAR then finished off the race well given the tempo of the race and the racing manners of the horse. After the race, A Badel, the rider of TIGRE DU TERRE, stated that the horse’s disappointing performance could be attributed to the tempo of the race in the early and middle stages which did not suit his mount. A veterinary inspection of TIGRE DU TERRE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MONGOLIAN KING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CHARITY GO, KA YING STAR and EASY GO EASY WIN were sent for sampling.