01/12/2019  Shatin  Race 7

HEALTHY LUCK lost ground when crowded for room on jumping between MASSIVE POCKET and COMFORT LIFE which began awkwardly and shifted out. In this incident, MASSIVE POCKET became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by HEALTHY LUCK. As the start was effected, CALIFORNIA GUNGHO turned its head to the left and consequently began only fairly. WHISKEY NEAT began very awkwardly and lost ground. FLYING SWORD began awkwardly. Near the 950 Metres, ALLIED AGILITY got its head up on a number of occasions when travelling keenly. After the 800 Metres, GLENEALY GENERALS got its head up on a number of occasions when racing tight outside SUPER JUNIOR which was racing tight outside MASSIVE POCKET and awkwardly placed behind FLYING SWORD. Near the 250 Metres, SUPER JUNIOR raced tight inside GLENEALY GENERALS which shifted in. Passing the 100 Metres, CALIFORNIA GUNGHO was shifted to the outside of ALLIED AGILITY after being disappointed for running between that horse and HEALTHY LUCK. GLENEALY GENERALS and SUPER JUNIOR, which were following CALIFORNIA GUNGHO, were inconvenienced in consequence. A Badel stated that when riding out GLENEALY GENERALS, he was always aware that SUPER JUNIOR was awkwardly placed to his inside. He said after the 300 Metres CALIFORNIA GUNGHO was starting to shift ground to the outside of GLENEALY GENERALS and as GLENEALY GENERALS was closing off the race well when ridden hands and heels, he elected not to use the whip on the horse due to GLENEALY GENERALS not being in sufficiently clear ground and having a number of runners racing around his mount at that time. He added, irrespective of this, he believed that GLENEALY GENERALS was finishing off the race well and he did not believe that the whip being used on the horse would aid it over the concluding stages. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of SUPER JUNIOR, K C Leung stated that after racing tight between runners near the 800 Metres, his mount came off the bridle and then after this did not travel as it had at its recent starts when ridden by him. He said whilst SUPER JUNIOR always makes a type of an abnormal breathing noise in its races, he felt that today the horse’s breathing was more noticeable than it had been previously and this may explain why SUPER JUNIOR did not finish off its race. A veterinary inspection of SUPER JUNIOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of SUPER JUNIOR, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SUPER JUNIOR will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. DUKE WAI and STRONGER were sent for sampling.