22/04/2019  Shatin  Race 2

MASSIVE MILLENNIUM began very awkwardly and lost ground. RUMINARE began awkwardly, shifted in and brushed NICE KICK. After this, RUMINARE was ridden along to obtain a forward position and after being crossed by MASSIVE POWER after the 1200 Metres got its head up on a number occasions when proving difficult to settle. DISTRICT EXPRESS (M Harley) got its head up on a number of occasions shortly after the start when being steadied to obtain cover. After the race, M Harley reported that DISTRICT EXPRESS made an abnormal breathing noise during the race. A veterinary inspection of DISTRICT EXPRESS immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer”. From a wide barrier, MASTER BERNINI was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. After being steadied from the outside barrier to obtain cover, ALCAZAR (C Schofield) commenced to prove very difficult to settle passing the 1300 Metres and got its head up on a number of occasions. ALCAZAR continued to travel keenly and after the 1200 Metres again got its head up when over-racing. ALCAZAR then commenced to race intractably and shifted in abruptly despite the efforts of its rider at the 1050 Metres, resulting in MASSIVE MILLENNIUM being crowded for room and MASTER BERNINI being inconvenienced. ALCAZAR again got its head up for some distance when making the turn near the 900 Metres. C Schofield reported that after proving very difficult to settle, ALCAZAR did not feel comfortable in its action in the Straight and as it was out of contention he eased the horse down over the latter stages of the race. A veterinary inspection of ALCAZAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The racing manners of ALCAZAR were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ALCAZAR will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial around a bend and amongst runners and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Near the 1000 Metres, SURE SUPREME shifted in and made contact with DISTRICT EXPRESS. SURE SUPREME was then taken out passing the 1000 Metres by ROYAL PREROGATIVE which shifted out. MASSIVE MILLENNIUM got its head on the side and made the turn near the 900 Metres awkwardly. At the 850 Metres, NEVER BETTER got its head up when awkwardly placed behind NICE KICK which was racing close to the heels of RUMINARE. MASSIVE MILLENNIUM, which was following NEVER BETTER, was inconvenienced in consequence. For the majority of the race, JIMSON THE FAMOUS travelled wide and without cover and near the 800 Metres was taken wider by MAJESTIC ENDEAVOUR which shifted out away from the heels of XIANG HUANG QI. On straightening, NEVER BETTER was awkwardly placed close to the heels of NICE KICK. RUMINARE and NICE KICK were unable to obtain clear running until passing the 300 Metres. After the 300 Metres, MASSIVE MILLENNIUM shifted out and brushed ROYAL PREROGATIVE which in turn shifted out, inconveniencing ALCAZAR and SURE SUPREME. Passing the 200 Metres, ROCKAGE momentarily raced in restricted room between JIMSON THE FAMOUS and NICE KICK which shifted out. Approaching the 100 Metres, NEVER BETTER was awkwardly placed when improving into tight running between RUMINARE and MASSIVE POWER. This resulted in MASSIVE POWER being inconvenienced when NEVER BETTER shifted in near the 100 Metres. A veterinary inspection of XIANG HUANG QI immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NICE KICK and MAJESTIC ENDEAVOUR were sent for sampling.