14/07/2019  Shatin  Race 2

YEE CHEONG LUCKY was withdrawn on 13.7.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BLISSFUL EIGHT (M Harley). Before being allowed to race again, YEE CHEONG LUCKY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WHISKY KNIGHT was slow to begin and then was bumped by HARBOUR CENTURY which shifted out. RICHCITY FORTUNE and RUN MOOCHI bumped at the start. GOLDEN CANNON was crowded for room on jumping between NEVER BETTER which was racing tight outside RAICHU and XIANG HUANG QI which shifted in. After this, both NEVER BETTER and GOLDEN CANNON were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. A short distance after the start, ADONIS was momentarily eased away from the heels of FORMULA GALORE. In this incident, ADONIS shifted in, resulting in XIANG HUANG QI being momentarily crowded for room. After this, XIANG HUANG QI was taken across behind runners. Near the 750 Metres, HARBOUR CENTURY, which was laying out, got its head on the side and shifted out, resulting in RUN MOOCHI being inconvenienced. After this, HARBOUR CENTURY continued to lay out rounding the turns. Rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, ADONIS and SUNNY ORIENT raced tight as ADONIS attempted to shift out into clear running. Approaching the 100 Metres, RAICHU shifted in under pressure, requiring its rider to stop riding and correct the horse. At the 75 Metres, the whip of M F Poon (KEEP GOING) was knocked from his grasp by the whip of G van Niekerk (NEVER BETTER). Throughout the race, KEEP GOING travelled wide and without cover. BLISSFUL EIGHT also travelled wide and without cover and subsequently finished tailed out. The performance of BLISSFUL EIGHT was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BLISSFUL EIGHT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, Z Purton (ADONIS) stated that his mount over-raced badly in the early and middle stages and got its head up on a number of occasions when having to be checked away from the heels of SUNNY ORIENT. He said ADONIS did not settle until after the 600 Metres and consequently was not able to finish off the race. He added although ADONIS was momentarily crowded for room between SUNNY ORIENT and NEVER BETTER passing the 200 Metres, this was of little significance as the horse was already under pressure at this time. A veterinary inspection of ADONIS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of WHISKY KNIGHT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ADONIS, FORMULA GALORE and HARBOUR CENTURY were sent for sampling.