15/09/2019  Shatin  Race 5

SUPER WISE and GEORGIAN MANOR bumped at the start, causing GEORGIAN MANOR to become unbalanced when racing tight inside THRILLED. DECISIVE ACTION lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and bumped the inside of its stall. Shortly after the start, GRATWICK and WINSTON’S LAD raced in restricted room between SUMSTREETSUMWHERE and SOLOMON’S BAY which shifted out. After this, GRATWICK, SUMSTREETSUMWHERE and WINSTON’S LAD were all shifted across behind runners from wide barriers. Passing the 1000 Metres, SUPER WISE was crowded for room inside CALIFORNIA GUNGHO (J Moreira) which shifted in. In the circumstances, J Moreira was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground. After being steadied away from the heels of CALIFORNIA GUNGHO, SUPER WISE was shifted to the outside of that horse passing the 900 Metres. THRILLED, which was racing to the outside and behind SUPER WISE, got its head on the side and lay out away from SUPER WISE before being awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse near the 850 Metres. As THRILLED shifted out, SOLOMON’S BAY improved into tight running inside that horse and to the outside of GEORGIAN MANOR. SOLOMON’S BAY then raced in restricted room between those horses passing the 800 Metres and got its head up when racing close to the heels of SUPER WISE. NEW ASIA SUNRISE, which was racing outside THRILLED and which throughout the race travelled wide and without cover was forced wider still in this incident. Making the turn approaching the 900 Metres, GEORGIAN MANOR lay in and brushed the running rail. SUPER WISE made the Home Turn awkwardly. Near the 150 Metres, WINSTON’S LAD was directed towards the outside of THRILLED. Then near the 50 Metres, WINSTON’S LAD was shifted to the inside of THRILLED and consequently was not able to be properly tested over the concluding stages. Passing the 50 Metres, THRILLED was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SUPER WISE which shifted out under pressure. When questioned regarding his riding in the early stages, Apprentice K H Chan stated that he was instructed to lead on SUPER WISE as the horse had previously been successful when ridden in this manner by him. He said SUPER WISE began only fairly today and he had to make a lot of use of the horse in the early stages to take up a forward position. He said approaching the 1100 Metres he observed CALIFORNIA GUNGHO also being ridden to obtain the lead, however, as he was instructed to lead the race, he continued to ride his mount aggressively to maintain his position inside that horse and prevent it from being able to cross SUPER WISE. He said at the 1000 Metres it became apparent to him that CALIFORNIA GUNGHO was showing more early speed than SUPER WISE and therefore he desisted riding his mount along and after being awkwardly placed inside CALIFORNIA GUNGHO passing the 1000 Metres then shifted to the outside of that horse. Apprentice Chan was advised that his explanation would be reported, however, in the opinion of the Stewards, his riding of SUPER WISE from passing the 1100 Metres until after the 1000 Metres lacked judgement. He was further advised that it should have been apparent to him at an earlier stage that CALIFORNIA GUNGHO was showing superior speed to SUPER WISE and it was therefore detrimental to SUPER WISE’s chances for that horse to be aggressively ridden for such a distance in the early stages in an attempt to prevent CALIFORNIA GUNGHO from crossing. A veterinary inspection of GEORGIAN MANOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SOLOMON’S BAY and CALIFORNIA GUNGHO were sent for sampling.