23/02/2020  Shatin  Race 2

SKYEY SUPREME and MISSION SMART began awkwardly. COMFORT LIFE began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped NATURAL STORM which was crowded for room inside CARE FREE PRINCE. JOY MASTER began very awkwardly, shifted in and bumped WINNING TOGETHER, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. JOY MASTER was then ridden along for a short distance, however, was subsequently shifted across behind to obtain cover when unable to improve its position. From wide barriers, WINNING TOGETHER and FUN TIMES were shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. Passing the 1200 Metres, HAPPY ICHIBAN raced tight inside BEST FOR YOU which was taken in marginally by HINYUEN SWIFTNESS. After the 1100 Metres, BEST FOR YOU travelled keenly and got its head up when awkwardly placed behind HINYUEN SWIFTNESS. After the 1000 Metres, NATURAL STORM travelled keenly when racing behind BEST FOR YOU. Passing the 800 Metres, COMFORT LIFE (M F Poon) became badly unbalanced and lost ground abruptly. M F Poon stated that he was unable to offer any reason for this occurrence other than that the horse may have been galloped on behind. When COMFORT LIFE lost ground, OLD HAVANA, which was following that horse, was checked away from the heels of COMFORT LIFE in consequence passing the 750 Metres. A veterinary inspection of COMFORT LIFE immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a minor wound to the outside of the right front pastern. Before being allowed to race again, COMFORT LIFE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Passing the 700 Metres and again passing the 600 Metres, MISSION SMART was awkwardly placed behind NATURAL STORM. Passing the 350 Metres, SKYEY SUPREME was shifted out away from the heels of COURAGEOUS DRAGON. Approaching the 300 Metres, MISSION SMART was shifted out away from the heels of FUN TIMES. Throughout the race, DESTINE JEWELLERY travelled wide and without cover. Whilst the riding out of HINYUEN SWIFTNESS close to the finishing line did not affect that horse’s finishing position, Apprentice K H Chan was severely reprimanded and told to ensure that he rides his mounts out to the best of his ability all the way to the end of the race where circumstances permit. After the race, M Chadwick reported that WINNING TOGETHER made an abnormal breathing noise during the race. An endoscopic examination of WINNING TOGETHER did not reveal any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of DESTINE JEWELLERY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BEST FOR YOU and HINYUEN SWIFTNESS were sent for sampling.