01/10/2019  Shatin  Race 5

DANEHILL JADE was withdrawn on 28.9.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by first Standby Declared Starter SEVENTY SEVENTY (B Shinn). CITY LEGEND was withdrawn on 30.9.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (inappetence and blood abnormality) and was replaced by second Standby Declared Starter SUPERB AGILITY (H T Mo). Before being allowed to race again, DANEHILL JADE and CITY LEGEND will both be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WHAT A LEGEND shifted in at the start and inconvenienced SUPERB AGILITY. SUPERB AGILITY was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. TOUCHDOWN STRIKER began awkwardly. SPEEDY LUCK was crowded for room on jumping between AMAZING SATCHMO and CALLING THE SHOTS, both of which shifted ground. AMAZING SATCHMO then got its head on the side and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SPEEDY LUCK a short distance after the start. GALA NIGHT got its head up on a number of occasions in the early stages when being shifted across behind runners from a wide barrier. GALA NIGHT lost its right front plate in the early stages. After the 1000 Metres, CALLING THE SHOTS was left racing wide and without cover. Near the 150 Metres, CALLING THE SHOTS was momentarily eased away from the heels of SPEEDY LUCK (J Moreira) which shifted in. J Moreira was advised to exercise more care. The performance of TOUCHDOWN STRIKER, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, TOUCHDOWN STRIKER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, K Teetan stated that it was intended for DESTIN to be ridden with cover behind the leaders if possible, however, due to the circumstances of the race in the early stages he was left racing in a three wide position outside ALL BEST FRIENDS and as there was no opportunity to shift in to obtain cover behind that horse, he allowed DESTIN to improve its position to race outside the lead rather than covering unnecessary ground. A veterinary inspection of SUPERB AGILITY, GALA NIGHT and TOUCHDOWN STRIKER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. EZRA and DESTIN were sent for sampling.