14/07/2019  Shatin  Race 7

ARDENODE was crowded for room on jumping between SOLOMON’S BAY and BALLISTIC KING which shifted out abruptly. In this incident, ARDENODE made heavy contact with SOLOMON’S BAY which became unbalanced, shifted out and inconvenienced CLASSIC POSH which was then crowded for room inside REEL BIZZY which shifted out at the start and bumped heavily with WORLD FAMOUS, causing REEL BIZZY to become unbalanced and WORLD FAMOUS to lose ground. From wide barriers, DECISIVE ACTION and BREEDERS’ SKY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 900 Metres, ARDENODE got its head up when travelling keenly and awkwardly placed behind LET’S TAKE IT EASY. Approaching the 900 Metres, DECISIVE ACTION was awkwardly placed outside the heels of ARDENODE After the 200 Metres, HELLO BEAUTY shifted out under pressure. When questioned, M F Poon stated that he was given similar instructions to those he had been provided with on REEL BIZZY at its most recent start which was to obtain a position in about midfield with cover. He said in today’s race he was asked to again attempt to obtain a midfield position one horse off the rail or if three wide to ensure that he was able to obtain cover. He said REEL BIZZY began better today than it did last start and he was left racing in advance of CLASSIC POSH and to that horse’s outside. He said he felt that he would have had to heavily restrain REEL BIZZY in an attempt to obtain a position behind CLASSIC POSH and therefore he allowed his mount to shift over with that horse. He said as he felt that REEL BIZZY was going to be left racing wide and possibly without cover, he elected to ride his mount forward of CLASSIC POSH and SOLOMON’S BAY after the 1100 Metres so that REEL BIZZY did not have to cover unnecessary ground. He added this resulted in REEL BIZZY being ridden in a more prominent position than had been intended. He said in the Straight REEL BIZZY did not quicken and finished off the race only one-paced. Mr C S Shum, the trainer of REEL BIZZY, confirmed the instructions given to M F Poon were to ride the horse in about midfield or just worse than midfield with cover if possible. He said after considering the circumstances of the race he was satisfied with Jockey Poon’s decision to take up a more forward position, however, he is of the opinion that REEL BIZZY is better suited when being able to be ridden from off the speed. A veterinary inspection of REEL BIZZY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, U Rispoli (AMBITIOUS HEART) stated that, from the inside barrier, it was anticipated that the horse would take up a handy position. He said however that AMBITIOUS HEART travelled only fairly and after allowing HELLO BEAUTY to cross, he was unable to prevent BALLISTIC KING from crossing AMBITIOUS HEART near the 800 Metres as his mount would not pick up in order to maintain its position inside that horse. He said he therefore elected to take a trailing position behind BALLISTIC KING as he felt that continuing to pursue this run would result in AMBITIOUS HEART not finishing off the race. He said because of these factors AMBITIOUS HEART raced further back in the field than had been anticipated. A veterinary inspection of AMBITIOUS HEART immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. AEROHAPPINESS and HELLO BEAUTY were sent for sampling.