14/07/2019  Shatin  Race 9

BOMBAY BLITZ was withdrawn on 13.7.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter CHAIRMAN LO. Before being allowed to race again, BOMBAY BLITZ will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SONIC FIGHTER and GOOD BEAUTY bumped at the start as did JOLLY CONVERGENCE and SMILING CHARM. From wide barriers, ASSIMILATE and CHAIRMAN LO were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. For some distance after the 1200 Metres, YOUNG LEGEND proved very difficult to settle and shifted ground on a number of occasions. CHAIRMAN LO was awkwardly placed behind GOOD BEAUTY passing the 400 Metres. CHAIRMAN LO, which was improving into tight running, and JOLLY HONOUR were both steadied when crowded for room near the 350 Metres between YOUNG LEGEND and GOOD BEAUTY, both of which shifted marginal ground. At the same stage, ASSIMILATE, which was experiencing difficulty obtaining clear running, shifted in away from SMILING CHARM after racing tight inside that horse and in doing so bumped JOLLY HONOUR, causing ASSIMILATE to be hampered and JOLLY HONOUR to be further hampered. Passing the 250 Metres, LITTLE WISE MAN, which was commencing to give ground, was momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of YOUNG LEGEND which shifted in. After this, LITTLE WISE MAN gave ground, resulting in JOLLY HONOUR being shifted out away from the heels of that horse near the 200 Metres. A veterinary inspection of LITTLE WISE MAN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Throughout the race, JOLLY CONVERGENCE and LITTLE WISE MAN travelled wide and without cover. Mr C S Shum, the trainer of YOUNG LEGEND, stated that after being successful when ridden in a forward position two starts ago, he had been disappointed with the manner in which the horse had failed to finish off the race at its last start. He said, from barrier 11, if YOUNG LEGEND were to take up a forward position, the horse would be left racing without cover and he is of the view that it may be better suited when ridden behind runners. He said although he anticipated the pace of the race would not be strong, he instructed G van Niekerk, the rider of YOUNG LEGEND, to ride the horse more conservatively today to ensure that it had cover. He said although YOUNG LEGEND over-raced in the early stages, he was satisfied with the manner in which the horse closed off the race which, in his opinion, confirmed that YOUNG LEGEND is better suited when ridden with cover. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that ASSIMILATE had sustained a laceration to the outside of the right front cannon. A veterinary inspection of SMILING CHARM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SONIC FIGHTER, MORE THAN THIS and MY DARLING were sent for sampling. <15/7/2019 Additional Veterinary Report>The Veterinary Surgeon reported that SONIC FIGHTER was lame in its right hind leg on the morning after racing. Before being allowed to race again, SONIC FIGHTER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.