19/01/2020  Shatin  Race 9

DUKE WAI began only fairly and then was bumped by RAGING STORM which was taken in by STRONGER. CALIFORNIA WHIP shifted out at the start and inconvenienced LOVING A BOOM. From the outside barriers, WATER DIVINER and GUNNISON were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. LITTLE BIRD and KING OF HEARTS were also steadied shortly after the start and shifted across behind runners. After the 900 Metres, CALIFORNIA WHIP was left racing wide and without cover. Also after the 900 Metres, WATER DIVINER shifted in and bumped LITTLE BIRD. For some distance after the 300 Metres, DUKE WAI was awkwardly placed behind COMPUTER PATCH when being shifted to the outside of that horse. DUKE WAI and STRONGER then raced tight passing the 200 Metres as DUKE WAI improved into tight running between those horses as COMPUTER PATCH shifted out under pressure. TELECOM PUMA was awkwardly placed outside DUKE WAI as that horse was being shifted to the outside of COMPUTER PATCH. After racing tight outside DUKE WAI, STRONGER got its head on the side and shifted out away from that horse after the 200 Metres, resulting in GOLD CHEST being inconvenienced and shifted out away from STRONGER, causing LOVING A BOOM to also be inconvenienced. When questioned regarding his riding of DUKE WAI in the early part of the Straight, K Teetan stated that passing the 350 Metres he was aware that a run was developing to the inside of COMPUTER PATCH. He said near the 300 Metres he considered improving to the inside of COMPUTER PATCH, however, he was concerned that that horse would lay in and therefore resulting in DUKE WAI not being able to proceed between that horse and the leader BEAUTY APPLAUSE. He said therefore after the 300 Metres he directed DUKE WAI to the outside of COMPUTER PATCH and after being very awkwardly positioned behind that horse was able to improve into tight running near the 200 Metres. He said he was aware that COMPUTER PATCH was shifting out under pressure after the 250 Metres but at this stage he had already committed to come to the outside of COMPUTER PATCH. He added the principal difficulty that he had in securing clear running to the outside of COMPUTER PATCH was as a result of that horse shifting out under pressure. A veterinary inspection of WATER DIVINER and LOVING A BOOM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DUKE WAI and BEAUTY APPLAUSE were sent for sampling.