31/03/2019  Shatin  Race 10

SMILING PRIDE was withdrawn on 30.3.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore and right hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter WORLD FAMOUS (M F Poon). Before being allowed to race again, SMILING PRIDE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. MANNA FROM HEAVEN and DEFINING MOMENT both began awkwardly. EVER LAUGH shifted out on jumping and bumped SPLENDID TIMING. Despite being hard ridden in the early and middle stages, STARSHIP was reluctant to hold its position and raced detached from the field until after the 700 Metres. After the 1000 Metres, SPLENDID TIMING was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 500 Metres, UNICRON JEWELLERY was steadied when attempting to improve between SPLENDID TIMING and I DO where there was insufficient room. UNICRON JEWELLERY was then steadied and shifted to the outside of SPLENDID TIMING to improve. EVER LAUGH, which was following UNICRON JEWELLERY, was shifted out away from the heels of that horse in consequence and consequently made the Home Turn awkwardly. Passing the 400 Metres, FLYING QUEST was hampered when awkwardly placed close to the heels of MANNA FROM HEAVEN after getting its head on the side and shifting in away from WORLD FAMOUS. WORLD FAMOUS was then momentarily awkwardly placed behind EARTH TRILOGY approaching the 300 Metres before being shifted to the inside of that horse. WORLD FAMOUS then had difficulty obtaining clear running until near the 200 Metres. Near the 300 Metres, SPLENDID TIMING became unbalanced after being bumped by I DO (C Schofield) which shifted out. C Schofield was reprimanded and advised to exercise more care when shifting ground in similar circumstances. Near the 250 Metres, SPLENDID TIMING was hampered when steadied away from the heels of I DO which was taken out by DEFINING MOMENT (C Y Ho) which shifted out to obtain clear running. C Y Ho was severely reprimanded and told to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. Near the 150 Metres, WORLD FAMOUS and STARLIT KNIGHT were awkwardly placed between XIANG BAI QI and EARTH TRILOGY which both shifted in marginally. FLYING QUEST, which was following STARLIT KNIGHT, was steadied and shifted in away from the heels of that horse in consequence. When questioned regarding the performance of I DO, C Schofield stated that his mount travelled only fairly in the run. He said I DO was following the eventual winner NOT USUAL TALENT rounding the Home Turn and his mount improved satisfactorily in the early part of the Straight. He said after shifting out and making contact with SPLENDID TIMING, his mount then did not quicken and finished off the race only one-paced. He added whilst I DO was inconvenienced when DEFINING MOMENT shifted out near the 250 Metres, at this time the horse was finishing off the race only fairly. A veterinary inspection of I DO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of EARTH TRILOGY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. I DO, NOT USUAL TALENT and DEFINING MOMENT were sent for sampling.