09/11/2019  Shatin  Race 9

I DO was withdrawn on 8.11.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (blood abnormality) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter SPLENDOUR AND GOLD (Z Purton). Before being allowed to race again, I DO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SPLENDOUR AND GOLD shifted out at the start and bumped SUPER ELEGANCE which in turn shifted out, causing CLEMENT LEGEND to be crowded for room inside GLORIOUS DRAGON which was racing tight inside CROWN AVENUE. This resulted in GLORIOUS DRAGON becoming unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by CLEMENT LEGEND. From the outside barriers, HAPPY SEBRING, DEFINING MOMENT and RULETHEROOST were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 1700 Metres, SUPER ELEGANCE momentarily raced tight between SPLENDOUR AND GOLD and CROWN AVENUE which at this time was racing tight inside the heels of TASHIDELEK. Passing the 1500 Metres, JOLLY GENE propped when racing in the lead and lost momentum. TASHIDELEK, which was racing outside JOLLY GENE, shifted out away from the heels of that horse, resulting in HOME WIN being bumped and taken wider. RULE THEE, which was following JOLLY GENE, was checked in consequence. The Stewards were satisfied that at this time JOLLY GENE reacted adversely to a number of birds which were on the track taking flight as the field approached and that the incident was not as a result of JOLLY GENE’s racing manners. Near the 1300 Metres, CHARITY GO was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 1000 Metres, CROWN AVENUE was steadied away from the heels of HOME WIN which shifted out away from the heels of TASHIDELEK. Then approaching the 800 Metres, HOME WIN was awkwardly placed outside the heels of TASHIDELEK which shifted to the outside of JOLLY GENE. Passing the 400 Metres, CROWN AVENUE raced tight outside MONGOLIAN KING which improved into tight running between CROWN AVENUE and CHARITY GO. CLEMENT LEGEND was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight and approaching the 300 Metres was shifted in a number of horses to improve. Near the 200 Metres, CROWN AVENUE was steadied and lost ground when crowded for room between GLORIOUS DRAGON and MONGOLIAN KING which raced tight outside CHARITY GO which shifted out marginally under pressure. As the Stewards were satisfied that there was no carelessness exhibited by any rider in this incident, no further action was taken. Over the final 200 Metres, GLORIOUS DRAGON lay in under pressure and proved difficult to ride and close to the finishing line lay in towards the heels of SPLENDOUR AND GOLD. After the race, J Moreira stated that although CROWN AVENUE was hampered near the 200 Metres, the horse was already beaten at this time. He said however that, in his opinion, CROWN AVENUE’s beaten margin would not have been as great as he did not ride the horse out given that it sustained interference and was under extreme pressure at that stage. A veterinary inspection of CROWN AVENUE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of CHARITY GO, JOLLY GENE and RULETHEROOST immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HAPPY SEBRING, SPLENDOUR AND GOLD and GLORIOUS DRAGON were sent for sampling.