03/04/2019  Shatin  Race 7

HAPPY VICTORY was reluctant to proceed to the barriers and then after arriving at the barriers stood flat-footed on occasions and was reluctant to enter the stalls. Also when behind the barriers, HAPPY VICTORY made contact with a rail on a number of occasions when reluctant to proceed into the stalls. After making contact with the rail, HAPPY VICTORY was examined by the Veterinary Officer who found the horse was suitable to race. Then on jumping, HAPPY VICTORY began very awkwardly and lost ground and subsequently finished tailed out. After the race, HAPPY VICTORY was reluctant to proceed to the unplaced saddling area until M L Yeung, the rider of that horse, dismounted. The Stewards ruled that before being allowed to race again HAPPY VICTORY must pass a series of consecutive barrier trials in which the horse must proceed to the barriers in a timely manner and load satisfactorily following which it will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY VICTORY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SIMPLY BIG began awkwardly. The performance of BEAR AGAIN, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BEAR AGAIN will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of BEAR AGAIN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. When questioned regarding the performance of BLITZING, K Teetan stated that he had to make some use of the horse in the early stages to obtain a forward position from the outside barrier. He said however this had previously been the case in a number of BLITZING’s races and on those occasions the horse was able to finish off the race. He said however that BLITZING did not show as much early speed as a number of other horses which were drawn more favourably and he was required to race further back in the field than had been anticipated. He said after the 800 Metres he was able to shift in to race behind BEAR AGAIN, however, making the turn near the 700 Metres he was awkwardly placed behind that horse as BEAR AGAIN was having difficulty maintaining its position. He said he shifted BLITZING to the outside of BEAR AGAIN after the 600 Metres and BLITZING initially responded well to his riding. He said whilst he did not expect BLITZING to be able to win the race from this point, based on the manner in which it quickened after the 500 Metres, he anticipated the horse would finish off the race well. He added however that BLITZING was disappointing in the Straight in that it did not close off the race as he anticipated it would. A veterinary inspection of BLITZING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. WINNER SUPREME and SIMPLY BIG were sent for sampling.