02/02/2019  Shatin  Race 7

WINNING WAYS was withdrawn on 1.2.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore foot) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BETTER CHOICE (M F Poon). Before being allowed to race again, WINNING WAYS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. TORNADO TWIST began only fairly. BETTER CHOICE lost ground when crowded for room on jumping between DIAMOND RHYME and WALDORF which shifted out. In this incident, BETTER CHOICE made contact with the hindquarters of DIAMOND RHYME which became unbalanced. FLYING MURTY shifted in at the start and bumped LUCKY HERO. LUCKY HERO then shifted in away from FLYING MURTY and bumped THE ABRAXAS. After this, FLYING MURTY was shifted across behind runners. Also in the early stages, from the outside barriers, SONIC FIGHTER and LONE EAGLE were steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Making the turn near the 900 Metres, MIGHTY MAVERICK was awkwardly placed close to the heels of PLAY TO WIN which was steadied away from the heels of THE ABRAXAS which shifted in. TORNADO TWIST, which was following MIGHTY MAVERICK, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. BETTER CHOICE, which was following TORNADO TWIST, shifted out away from the heels of that horse and inconvenienced LONE EAGLE. For some distance after the 200 Metres, BETTER CHOICE was shifted out a number of horses to obtain clear running to the outside of TORNADO TWIST. Near the 50 Metres, SONIC FIGHTER was inconvenienced when racing in restricted room between BETTER CHOICE and LONE EAGLE which shifted in. Throughout the race, LUCKY HERO travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of THE ABRAXAS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TORNADO TWIST and BETTER CHOICE were sent for sampling.