17/02/2019  Shatin  Race 9

SUNNY SPEED, which was having its first race start in Hong Kong, stood flat-footed as the start was effected and lost a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, SUNNY SPEED will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. EASY GO EASY WIN and GREEN LUCK began awkwardly. FURORE was crowded for room on jumping inside SOLAR PATCH which shifted in abruptly. After this, from wide barriers, FURORE and SOLAR PATCH were shifted across behind runners. Also from a wide barrier, HARMONY VICTORY was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. DARK DREAM lost its left hind plate near the 1600 Metres. Passing the 1400 Metres, MR SO AND SO commenced to prove difficult to settle and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of HELENE LEADINGSTAR. HO HO KHAN, which was following, was hampered in consequence. When HO HO KHAN was checked away from the heels of MR SO AND SO, that horse shifted in, resulting in FURORE being crowded for room. SUNNY SPEED, which was following FURORE and proving difficult to settle, got its head up when being checked away from the heels of that horse. SUNNY SPEED then continued to over-race for some distance and proved very difficult to settle. Passing the 300 Metres, MR SO AND SO was shifted to the inside of KA YING STAR to obtain clear running. Approaching the 100 Metres, RED WARRIOR was awkwardly placed outside HELENE LEADINGSTAR which shifted out away from KA YING STAR. Near the 50 Metres, HELENE LEADINGSTAR raced tight outside the hindquarters of KA YING STAR due to both horses shifting ground. Throughout the race, RED WARRIOR travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that he was asked to obtain a forward position on KA YING STAR which was consistent with the instructions he was provided when riding the horse at its previous two race starts in Hong Kong. He said in the early stages he rode KA YING STAR along to clear runners to his inside with the intention of leading. He said however that MISSION TYCOON, which was drawn wider than KA YING STAR, showed more early speed than his mount and after shifting in to race close to the rail after the 1400 Metres he believed he would have had to make considerable use of KA YING STAR to maintain the position inside MISSION TYCOON which was travelling much stronger than KA YING STAR. He added as the race was being run at a steady tempo in the early stages, he allowed MISSION TYCOON to cross KA YING STAR and obtained a trailing position behind that horse near the 1300 Metres. A veterinary inspection of SOLAR PATCH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MISSION TYCOON and DARK DREAM were sent for sampling.