17/03/2019  Shatin  Race 1

CHARITY GRAND was withdrawn on 16.3.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter YOUNG EMPIRE (K C Leung). Before being allowed to race again, CHARITY GRAND will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Trainer P F Yiu was fined the sum of $10,000 for breaching Trainers’ Handbook Regulation 41 in that he entered CHEER WIN (V347) for a barrier trial at Sha Tin on Friday, 15 March 2019 when that horse was the second Standby Declared Starter for this race. After being saddled, BLINK OF A SECOND reared up and slipped over. BLINK OF A SECOND was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said the horse was lame in its left hind leg and accordingly was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, BLINK OF A SECOND was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, BLINK OF A SECOND will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When the tongue tie could not be applied to FLYING VICTORY (Z Purton) in the saddling area, the horse then proceeded to the Start where another attempt was made to apply the tongue tie. When attempting to have the tongue tie applied, FLYING VICTORY became fractious behind the barriers. Acting on advice that the tongue tie could not be applied, the Stewards approved for that horse to race without that gear. After the race, Z Purton stated that FLYING VICTORY did not make any abnormal breathing noises without the tongue tie applied. He further stated that whilst his mount raced greenly throughout the event, it had travelled similarly in its barrier trials leading up to today’s race and he was not surprised by this. He said whilst FLYING VICTORY became stirred up as the tongue tie was attempted to be applied to the horse, it settled by the time the race began and therefore he did not use this as an excuse for its disappointing performance. He added FLYING VICTORY did not change lead leg in the race but was disappointing in its failure to close off. A veterinary inspection of FLYING VICTORY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. SKY GEM began only fairly and then was steadied away from the heels of GENERAL TRUMP which shifted out after being bumped by BUDDIES. SPEEDY DRAGON shifted in at the start and bumped CAPTAIN FANTASTIC. In this incident, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC lost its left hind plate. CHICKEN DANCE, which was leaning against the outside of its stall, began awkwardly and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. SUN FOXHUNTER shifted out at the start and bumped MR CROISSANT, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. From the outside barrier, FLYING VICTORY was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. FLYING VICTORY raced very greenly during the event and shifted ground on a number of occasions. In the early stages, GENERAL TRUMP got its head up on a number of occasions when being steadied to obtain cover. Approaching the 900 Metres, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC commenced to prove difficult to settle and got its head up when momentarily crowded for room between GALLANT LEGACY and BUDDIES which shifted in away from MR CROISSANT. Near the 650 Metres, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC shifted in of its own accord and brushed the running rail. Approaching the 500 Metres, SKY GEM commenced to travel keenly and when being checked away from the heels of CAPTAIN FANTASTIC which was giving ground, clipped the heels of that horse and stumbled. After the 500 Metres, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC was eased down. A veterinary inspection of CAPTAIN FANTASTIC immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils and was distressed. Passing the 350 Metres, SPEEDY DRAGON was steadied when disappointed for running between SPEEDY OPTIMIST and MR CROISSANT, both of which shifted ground. Passing the 250 Metres, FLYING VICTORY, which continued to race greenly, was steadied away from the heels of GENERAL TRUMP when tightened for room between that horse and BUDDIES, both of which shifted ground. When being ridden out passing the 200 Metres, CHICKEN DANCE shifted ground on a number of occasions. Passing the 200 Metres, BUDDIES was momentarily held up for clear running when awkwardly placed behind SPEEDY DRAGON. Over the concluding stages, GALLANT LEGACY had some difficulty obtaining clear running inside YOUNG EMPIRE and behind LORIZ. For the majority of the race, MR CROISSANT travelled wide and without cover. MR CROISSANT and CHICKEN DANCE were sent for sampling.