27/01/2019  Shatin  Race 6

LONE EAGLE began only fairly. Passing the 800 Metres, DOUBLE VALENTINE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOKO when being shifted in behind that horse to obtain cover. After this, GOKO was left racing wide and without cover and making the turn after the 700 Metres got its head on the side and lay out. Passing the 600 Metres, GOD OF DRAGON got its head on the side, lay out and was awkwardly placed inside the heels of HAPPY TOUR which shifted in marginally when being ridden along. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that as EAGLE was having its first start on the All Weather surface today and due to the horse being drawn wide, he was asked to obtain a position with cover in about midfield if possible. He said after initially shifting his mount across in an attempt to obtain a midfield position, EAGLE immediately appeared to resent the kickback as the horse would not maintain its position and commenced to give ground after the 1000 Metres. He said he had to ride his mount hard in an endeavour to have it improve its position, however, at no stage of the race did the horse travel well and consequently did not finish off the race. When questioned regarding the performance of HAPPY TOUR, Z Purton stated that he rode his mount hard in the early stages in an attempt to lead as in the past HAPPY TOUR had not travelled well when required to race behind horses. He said, despite riding HAPPY TOUR aggressively, the horse did not show as much early speed as ELITE BOY and WINNING SUPREME and he was required to take a trailing position behind WINNING SUPREME after the 900 Metres. He said he rode his mount along in order to maintain its position behind WINNING SUPREME, however, the horse did not travel well and he was required to ride it vigorously from the 600 Metres. He said as HAPPY TOUR was not travelling well, he was unable to prevent GAMEPLAYER EMPEROR from improving around HAPPY TOUR near the 500 Metres. He added at the entrance to the Straight HAPPY TOUR commenced to respond to his vigorous riding and this resulted in the horse improving towards the heels of WINNING SUPREME. He said he was unable to shift to that horse’s outside due to GAMEPLAYER EMPEROR being positioned outside HAPPY TOUR and this resulted in HAPPY TOUR being awkwardly placed close to the heels of WINNING SUPREME. He said HAPPY TOUR’s momentum was consequently impeded and the horse was subsequently unable to regain that momentum. He said whilst HAPPY TOUR did not finish off the race strongly, in his opinion, given the circumstances of the race, he felt that the horse closed off satisfactorily. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY TOUR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, U Rispoli (WINNING SUPREME) reported that after not being able to dictate the terms of the race as a result of ELITE BOY holding its position inside WINNING SUPREME was, in his opinion, the reason why the horse did not finish off the race as it had done in its recent starts. A veterinary inspection of WINNING SUPREME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of WINNING SUPREME, which had won two of its most recent starts, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, WINNING SUPREME will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. HAPPY TOUR, GAMEPLAYER EMPEROR and GOLDIE FLANKER were sent for sampling.