14/07/2019  Shatin  Race 3

FREE VIEW and DIVINE POWER began only fairly. CITY LEGEND was crowded for room on jumping between HAVE FUN TOGETHER which shifted in and BREEZE OF SPRING which shifted out after beginning awkwardly. CASIMIRO and SHOUSON bumped shortly after the start. After travelling a short distance, PEARL CHAMPION was shifted across behind runners from a wide barrier. After the 1000 Metres, both SHOUSON and FORTUNATE RUNNER were left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 600 Metres, CASIMIRO and PEARL CHAMPION raced tight. At the entrance to the Straight, CASIMIRO was initially directed towards the outside of FORTUNATE RUNNER to improve between that horse and PEARL CHAMPION. When FORTUNATE RUNNER was taken out by BLOOMING SPIRIT, CASIMIRO was then shifted to the inside of FORTUNATE RUNNER to improve. Then passing the 300 Metres, CASIMIRO was checked when disappointed for running between BLOOMING SPIRIT and SHOUSON which was also checked when crowded for room outside TELECOM ROCKET (M F Poon) which got its head on the side and lay out. M F Poon was reprimanded and advised whilst the Stewards accepted that TELECOM ROCKET was laying out and that he did stop riding and straighten the horse, nonetheless, in the opinion of the Stewards, he should have reacted quicker than he did on this occasion to his mount shifting ground. After this, CASIMIRO had difficulty obtaining clear running and near the 150 Metres was shifted out away from the heels of FORTUNATE RUNNER to obtain clear running. CITY LEGEND was steadied away from the heels of BREEZE OF SPRING at the 400 Metres. Then after passing the 400 Metres, DIVINE POWER momentarily raced tight inside BREEZE OF SPRING which improved into tight running inside TELECOM ROCKET. Passing the 300 Metres, SMILING SUCCESS (M L Yeung) shifted in under pressure, resulting in BREEZE OF SPRING, which was improving quickly inside SMILING SUCCESS, becoming badly unbalanced when crowded for room near the 200 Metres. SMILING SUCCESS was then shifted out to relieve the tightening to BREEZE OF SPRING. Whilst the Stewards accepted that BREEZE OF SPRING had improved its position quickly to be racing inside SMILING SUCCESS, M L Yeung was nonetheless advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Passing the 100 Metres, BLOOMING SPIRIT raced tight inside FORTUNATE RUNNER. When questioned, M F Poon stated that he was asked to ride TELECOM ROCKET behind the speed if possible from the good barrier. He said TELECOM ROCKET showed good early speed and he did not have to make too much use of the horse in the early stages to obtain a forward position. He said TELECOM ROCKET initially took some time to quicken, however, when able to shift to the outside of ALL YOU NEED after the 250 Metres, TELECOM ROCKET then finished off the race well and he considered the horse’s finishing effort to be similar to that of last start when it was ridden from towards the rear of the field. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on PEARL CHAMPION at the request of Trainer A T Millard. The Veterinary Surgeon reported that this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, PEARL CHAMPION will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of SHOUSON and ALL YOU NEED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, both horses were unable to be scoped due to being fractious. A veterinary inspection of CITY LEGEND, DIVINE POWER and ROYAL CHOCOLATE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BREEZE OF SPRING, HAVE FUN TOGETHER and PEARL CHAMPION were sent for sampling.