12/10/2019  Shatin  Race 8

At declaration time, C Y Ho was declared as the rider of both EVER LAUGH and Standby Declared Starter PRECIOUSSHIP. It was established that C Y Ho had a firm commitment to ride PRECIOUSSHIP and also accepted the ride on EVER LAUGH. As such, the Stewards permitted C Schofield to be substituted as the rider of EVER LAUGH. For this declaration error, C Y Ho was fined $2,000. Just prior to the start being effected, EVER LAUGH lunged at the front gates and turned its head to the left, resulting in the horse losing a considerable amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, EVER LAUGH will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial. FLYING QUEST shifted in at the start and hampered CHUNG WAH SPIRIT. CHAMPION SUPREME and GLORIOUS DRAGON were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. After the 1300 Metres, GLORIOUS DRAGON was awkwardly placed close to the heels of DEFINING MOMENT which shifted out away from the heels of JIMMU. After this, DEFINING MOMENT continued to race close to the heels of JIMMU and after the 1200 Metres shifted out away from the heels of that horse. GLORIOUS DRAGON, which was following, was hampered in consequence and shifted out, resulting in CHUNG WAH SPIRIT being taken wider. CHUNG WAH SPIRIT was then steadied to obtain cover behind GLORIOUS DRAGON approaching the 1100 Metres. VINCY had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. After the 200 Metres, GLORIOUS DRAGON raced tight outside ASSIMILATE which shifted out. Passing the 150 Metres, FLYING QUEST was held up for clear running inside DEFINING MOMENT and outside GLORIOUS DRAGON which continued to race tight outside ASSIMILATE. Then passing the 100 Metres, FLYING QUEST was steadied when racing in restricted room between GLORIOUS DRAGON and DEFINING MOMENT which shifted in marginally. Close to the finishing line, ASSIMILATE raced tight between GLORIOUS DRAGON and UNICRON JEWELLERY. FLYING QUEST lost its right front plate after the race. The performance of CHEERS VANQUISHER, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, CHEERS VANQUISHER 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, R Bayliss stated that in the early part of the Straight CHAMPION SUPREME was held up for clear running behind STIMULATION and UNICRON JEWELLERY. He said he positioned CHAMPION SUPREME to improve between those horses passing the 300 Metres at which time a tight run developed between STIMULATION and UNICRON JEWELLERY. He said he hesitated for some strides passing the 300 Metres as STIMULATION and UNICRON JEWELLERY were drifting ground and he held concerns that if he attempted to improve into the tight running, a shift from either STIMULATION or UNICRON JEWELLERY would halt CHAMPION SUPREME’s momentum. He said when he was satisfied that he would be able to improve between those horses, he rode CHAMPION SUPREME vigorously approaching the 250 Metres to improve his position. When questioned, L Hewitson stated that BEAR AGAIN was left racing three wide and without cover after the 1400 Metres. He said when the race was being run at a sedate tempo, he allowed BEAR AGAIN to improve its position in order to clear BEAUTY DAY to his inside and avoid covering unnecessary ground. He said BEAR AGAIN was able to improve its position so as to clear BEAUTY DAY near the 900 Metres and in having to provide sufficient clearance to that horse, this resulted in BEAR AGAIN establishing a margin of about half a length over CHEERS VANQUISHER which was racing in the lead on the rail. He said he did consider steadying BEAR AGAIN at this time, however, he felt that restraining the horse and having it race on terms with CHEERS VANQUISHER would not have been in the best interests of BEAR AGAIN as it was travelling comfortably outside that horse. He added whilst the race after the 800 Metres was run at a faster tempo than might normally be the case, the race in the early stages was run at a particularly slow pace and therefore he was comfortable for BEAR AGAIN to race outside of and in advance of CHEERS VANQUISHER. A veterinary inspection of ASSIMILATE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. BEAUTY DAY and VINCY were sent for sampling.