01/07/2019  Shatin  Race 5

C Schofield (DEAL MAKER) was fined the sum of $2,000 for presenting himself to be weighed out with the incorrect saddle cloth number. VICTORY SONG shifted in at the start and bumped ENFOLDING, causing both horses to become unbalanced. HAY RUN began very awkwardly and shifted out abruptly, causing REMARKABLE to be bumped and taken out onto HAPPY HOUR which was checked when crowded for room inside the hindquarters of DEAL MAKER which became unbalanced. After this, HAY RUN, REMARKABLE and HAPPY HOUR were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. THE FULL BLOOM was crowded for room shortly after the start inside LUCKY WIN WIN which was taken in by TOUCH OF LUCK. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, VICTORY SONG and IRISH VEGA raced tight. After being hard ridden for some distance, GOOD FIT raced tight passing the 1400 Metres inside IRISH VEGA which shifted in when racing close to the heels of VICTORY SONG. Approaching the 1200 Metres, IRISH VEGA was again awkwardly placed close to the heels of VICTORY SONG. After the 1200 Metres, HAPPY HOUR shifted in of its own accord towards the running rail and became badly unbalanced. Near the 500 Metres, VICTORY SONG momentarily raced tight outside ENFOLDING which shifted out. GOOD FIT was held up when unable to obtain clear running from shortly after entering the Straight until after the 200 Metres and consequently was not able to be properly tested. Throughout the race, LUCKY WIN WIN travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Z Purton stated that it was felt that there was not a lot of pace in the race and whilst TOUCH OF LUCK had been effective when ridden in about a midfield position, a significant number of horses which were drawn inside TOUCH OF LUCK had previously raced in or about this position, therefore it was a case of having to come back on TOUCH OF LUCK or, due to the anticipated lack of speed in the race, obtain a more forward position so that TOUCH OF LUCK did not have too much to do. He said after shifting in to race behind the leaders in the early stages without having to make too much use of TOUCH OF LUCK, the horse then over-raced and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DEAL MAKER for some distance in the early and middle stages. After the race, K C Leung said that LORIZ travelled well in the lead, however, after coming under pressure rounding the Home Turn then did not finish off the race and, in his opinion, did not see out the distance of today’s race at its first time of asking. A veterinary inspection of LORIZ immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of IRISH VEGA and LUCKY WIN WIN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TOUCH OF LUCK, DEAL MAKER and ENFOLDING were sent for sampling.