28/04/2019  Shatin  Race 10

M F Poon was dislodged from COT CAMPBELL after leaving the Parade Ring without incident. GRACEANDMERCY shifted out on jumping, resulting in both FULL OF BEAUTY and FLYING THUNDER being hampered. INFINITY ENDEAVOUR began only fairly. From wide barriers, SEERITE DRAGON and COT CAMPBELL were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 1100 Metres, G van Niekerk (FLYING THUNDER) adjusted his right foot in the iron. GRACEANDMERCY travelled keenly after the 1000 Metres. FLYING THUNDER was held up for clear running approaching the 300 Metres and then passing the 300 Metres bumped STYLING CITY when shifting to the outside of GRACEANDMERCY which was giving ground. For the majority of the race, both LITTLE BIRD and NEW ASIA SUNRISE travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that after having to make some use of HANDSOME BO BO to cross runners to his inside, he commenced to steady the tempo after the 900 Metres in the lead. He said he was aware that CALIFORNIA FORTUNE was being vigorously ridden from wider on the track to cross runners to its inside and when CALIFORNIA FORTUNE shifted in to race outside HANDSOME BO BO after the 800 Metres, HANDSOME BO BO commenced to travel keenly and would not relax. He said he tried to steady the tempo on HANDSOME BO BO but his mount was racing too keenly with CALIFORNIA FORTUNE to its outside and he was not able to relax the horse. Apprentice C Wong, the rider of CALIFORNIA FORTUNE, stated that from a wide barrier he was instructed to be positive and lead the race if possible. He said he had to make a considerable use of CALIFORNIA FORTUNE over an extended distance from behind runners to its inside and it was not until near the 800 Metres that he was able to cross LITTLE BIRD and shift in to race outside HANDSOME BO BO. He said after shifting across to race outside HANDSOME BO BO, he immediately attempted to steady the tempo of the race without overly restraining CALIFORNIA FORTUNE as he had previously been instructed by Mr A S Cruz, the trainer of CALIFORNIA FORTUNE, not to heavily restrain his mounts if at all possible. He said despite his efforts to steady the tempo, CALIFORNIA FORTUNE was racing too keenly after being ridden along in the early stages and he was not able to have the horse relax and come back and sit off the leader HANDSOME BO BO. A veterinary inspection of STYLING CITY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of GRACEANDMERCY immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, GRACEANDMERCY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of LITTLE BIRD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. FLYING THUNDER and FULL OF BEAUTY were sent for sampling.