01/01/2020  Shatin  Race 1

BRAVE POWER was withdrawn on 31.12.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter JIANGXI STAMINA (C Schofield). Before being allowed to race again, BRAVE POWER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. NICE KICK lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and began only fairly. JIANGXI STAMINA was crowded for room on jumping between SPEEDY DRAGON and HARBOUR ALERT, both of which shifted ground. Despite being ridden along for a considerable distance in the early stages, SKY TREASURE was slow to muster speed. Approaching and passing the 1000 Metres, COLONEL travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover. In the early and middle stages, both MISSION SMART and JIANGXI STAMINA, which were having their first race start, travelled keenly and making the first turn JIANGXI STAMINA got its head on the side and lay out. Passing the 600 Metres, SKY TREASURE raced tight outside EL JEFE which improved into tight running between SKY TREASURE and DUBLIN STAR. Then approaching the 500 Metres, SKY TREASURE was bumped by EL JEFE as that horse was taken out by DUBLIN STAR. Passing the 300 Metres, WONDER WIN was shifted out away from the heels of DUBLIN STAR. Approaching the 200 Metres, the whip of A Badel (UNITED WE STAND) was knocked from his grasp by the whip of T Piccone (COLONEL). Passing the 200 Metres, MISSION SMART was directed to the inside of NICE KICK due to DUBLIN STAR shifting in to its outside. As MISSION SMART was being shifted to the inside of NICE KICK, NICE KICK shifted in under pressure, resulting in MISSION SMART being awkwardly placed inside the heels of that horse approaching and passing the 100 Metres. Passing the 100 Metres, SPEEDY DRAGON shifted in under pressure towards IRON BOY. SPEEDY DRAGON then raced tight outside IRON BOY over the concluding stages as that horse shifted out under pressure. Throughout the race, HARBOUR ALERT travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the performance of DUBLIN STAR, which was having its first race start today, J Moreira stated that the horse became worked up prior to the start as it had done in most of its preceding trials. He said DUBLIN STAR showed good early speed to take up a forward position and initially travelled satisfactorily. He said when HARBOUR ALERT improved to the outside of DUBLIN STAR after the 700 Metres, his mount was reluctant to maintain its position and he was obliged to shift to the outside of HARBOUR ALERT near the 500 Metres. He added in the early part of the Straight DUBLIN STAR showed a limited turn of foot and then after being shifted to the inside of IRON BOY near the 250 Metres, DUBLIN STAR finished off the race satisfactorily. A veterinary inspection of DUBLIN STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, the Veterinary Surgeon reported that UNITED WE STAND had bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of HARBOUR ALERT and JIANGXI STAMINA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DUBLIN STAR, IRON BOY and SPEEDY DRAGON were sent for sampling.