19/01/2020  Shatin  Race 2

EPTIWINS began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped ONE HAPPY STAR which became unbalanced. A short distance after the start, EPTIWINS was then crowded for room between ONE HAPPY STAR and MOON PEAKS, both of which shifted ground. MIGHTY VALOR shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of MELBOURNE HALL. SPARKLING STAR and POWER KING bumped on jumping. From the outside barrier, STRONG PROMISE was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. MIGHTY VALOR travelled very keenly in the early stages when being steadied to obtain cover. Near the 800 Metres, ONE HAPPY STAR was steadied away from the heels of MIGHTY VALOR which, when continuing to travel keenly, was awkwardly placed inside the heels of POWER KING which was racing tight inside LITTLE THUNDER. INCANTO PREPARED, which was following ONE HAPPY STAR, was steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. Near the 350 Metres, VICTORY FOR ALL raced tight between LITTLE THUNDER and MIGHTY VALOR. Then near the 300 Metres, LITTLE THUNDER was steadied away from the heels of POWER KING after racing tight between that horse which shifted in and VICTORY FOR ALL which became unbalanced after making contact with LITTLE THUNDER. Throughout the race, LITTLE THUNDER travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, B Shinn stated that from the wide barrier it was felt that if SPONTANEOUS were to be ridden into a forward position as it had been in some of its trials in the lead up to today’s race, the horse may not be able to finish off the race if it was required to be used up to obtain a forward position. He said he was therefore asked to shift the horse across behind runners in the early stages so as to ensure that it was able to finish off the race. He said after shifting SPONTANEOUS across behind runners in the early stages, his mount travelled only fairly in the early and middle stages, however, after being shifted to the outside of SPARKLING STAR near the 250 Metres then closed off the race well. He added, in his opinion, SPONTANEOUS would be suited by a step-up in distance in its future races. UNDEFEATED and POWER KING were sent for sampling.