22/04/2019  Shatin  Race 9

TEAM FORTUNE was slow to begin. ENCORE BOY began only fairly and then was crowded for room between STRATHCLYDE and ZERO HEDGE which shifted out. MULTIMILLION and ENSHRINED bumped at the start. HAPPY TOUR shifted in at the start and crowded NUCLEAR POWER. Near the 700 Metres, HARBOUR ALERT was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 200 Metres, HAPPY TOUR momentarily raced tight between TEAM FORTUNE and HARBOUR ALERT which shifted out. Passing the 100 Metres, Apprentice K H Chan (SIMPLY BIG) dropped his right rein. After the race, N Callan reported that WINNER SUPREME changed lead leg on an number of occasions in the Straight as it was giving ground. He said as WINNER SUPREME did not feel comfortable in its action, he eased it down over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of WINNER SUPREME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, WINNER SUPREME will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, C Schofield stated that when successful at its last start on 3 April 2019, JUST NOT LISTENING was able to lead and dictate the tempo of the race. He said in today’s race JUST NOT LISTENING began well from its outside barrier and consequently took up a forward position, however, due to MULTIMILLION and WINNER SUPREME showing superior early speed, he elected to shift in behind MULTIMILLION and sit off the leaders. He said due to the fast pace throughout the early stages JUST NOT LISTENING came under pressure soon after straightening and then got its head on the side and lay out when giving ground. A veterinary inspection of JUST NOT LISTENING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Also after the race, K Teetan reported that he was instructed to allow MULTIMILLION to use its natural speed without steadying the horse as MULTIMILLION had hung out badly at its only previous start when racing around a bend. He said MULTIMILLION had been ridden in this manner in its two recent barrier trials in the lead up to today’s race. He said however that after leading clearly MULTIMILLION came under pressure soon after straightening and then weakened noticeably in the Straight. He added, in his opinion, MULTIMILLION, at this stage of its career, is better suited over 1000 Metres on the straight course. A veterinary inspection of MULTIMILLION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of ENSHRINED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SIMPLY BIG and TEAM FORTUNE were sent for sampling.