08/12/2019  Shatin  Race 9

RAGING BLITZKRIEG began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of GUNNISON, causing that horse to become unbalanced. From the outside barriers, RAGING STORM and PATCH BABY were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. AEROHAPPINESS and FAT TURTLE were also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Passing the 1000 Metres, WATER DIVINER commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed behind the heels of GUNNISON. Approaching the 800 Metres, LITTLE BIRD got its head up after being crossed by BEAUTY AMIGO and shifted out, resulting in MR LUMIERES being taken wider and to race without cover. GUNNISON, which was following LITTLE BIRD, was checked away from the heels of that horse passing the 750 Metres as GUNNISON commenced to travel keenly. Passing the 700 Metres, WATER DIVINER commenced to over-race and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of GUNNISON. In this incident, WATER DIVINER shifted out abruptly away from the heels of GUNNISON, resulting in MR CROISSANT being hampered when crowded for room inside THANKS FOREVER. RAGING STORM, which was following WATER DIVINER, was shifted out away from the heels of that horse in consequence whilst CALIFORNIA WHIP was shifted out away from the heels of MR CROISSANT. Whilst the Stewards found that M Chadwick, the rider of BEAUTY AMIGO, who slowed the tempo of the race once reaching the lead, was not the cause of these incidents, nonetheless he was severely reprimanded and warned against the practice of easing the tempo of the race too abruptly. THANKS FOREVER travelled wide and without cover until approaching the 600 Metres. In the early part of the Straight, AEROHAPPINESS was shifted to the outside of FAT TURTLE which shifted in marginally. Passing the 200 Metres, RAGING STORM was shifted to the outside of WATER DIVINER after being disappointed for running between that horse and GUNNISON. Throughout the race, MISSION TYCOON travelled wide and without cover. After the race, H W Lai expressed concern regarding the action of PATCH BABY. A veterinary inspection of PATCH BABY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of PATCH BABY, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, PATCH BABY 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 regarding riding of CALIFORNIA WHIP in the Straight, K Teetan stated that, as instructed, he shifted his mount directly to the outside of runners at the entrance to the Straight after positioning CALIFORNIA WHIP towards the rear of the field from a wide barrier. He said he placed CALIFORNIA WHIP under pressure passing the 400 Metres by using the whip in the backhand on several occasions. He said CALIFORNIA WHIP did not immediately respond to his riding and therefore he put the whip away and commenced to ride it out vigorously hands and heels. He said he again used the whip in the backhand motion passing the 200 Metres and then resumed riding the horse out hands and heels all the way to the end of the race. He added whilst CALIFORNIA WHIP was making up ground over the concluding stages, he felt that the horse was giving of its best in the Straight and he did not believe that riding it more vigorously would have resulted in CALIFORNIA WHIP finishing off the race any better than it did. K Teetan was advised that his riding of CALIFORNIA WHIP in the Straight had come under notice and he must place his mounts under appropriate pressure to ensure that they finish off the race as best as they are able. A veterinary inspection of MR LUMIERES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of AEROHAPPINESS immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. FAT TURTLE and THANKS FOREVER were sent for sampling.