08/03/2020  Shatin  Race 1

At declaration time, H W Lai was declared as the rider of both SPIRIT PATCH and TURF BRILLIANT. It was established that H W Lai had a firm commitment to ride TURF BRILLIANT. As such, the Stewards permitted Apprentice K H Chan to be substituted as the rider of SPIRIT PATCH. For this declaration error, H W Lai was fined $2,000. EXPONENTS was withdrawn on 7.3.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BLAZING PARTNERS (N Callan). Before being allowed to race again, EXPONENTS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On the way to the Start, AEROFLASH cast its left front plate which required the horse being replated behind the barriers. The start of the race was consequently delayed. After the race, the Veterinary Surgeon reported that AEROFLASH was lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, AEROFLASH will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As the start was effected, THE JOY OF GIVING stood flat-footed and lost a significant amount of ground. Before being allowed to race again, THE JOY OF GIVING will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial. THE FULL BLOOM began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of BIG BULLY, resulting in THE FULL BLOOM losing ground. TURF BRILLIANT shifted in at the start and made contact with VICTORY SONG. AEROFLASH began awkwardly. Shortly after the start, BLAZING PARTNERS was bumped by SPIRIT PATCH which shifted out after being bumped by WINWIN THIRTYTHREE. After this, BLAZING PARTNERS, from a wide barrier, was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. GOLDEN CANNON was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Approaching the 1200 Metres, WONDER WIN was steadied away from the heels of MISCHIEVOUS SUNDAE which was taken in by SPIRIT PATCH which got its head on the side and shifted in away from the heels of SMILING SUCCESS. Making the first turn near the 900 Metres, VICTORY SONG raced in restricted room inside MISCHIEVOUS SUNDAE which lay in. Approaching the 600 Metres, GOLDEN CANNON was bumped by WONDER WIN which was racing tight outside BIG BULLY. Approaching the 350 Metres, BIG BULLY was steadied when disappointed for running between MISCHIEVOUS SUNDAE and VICTORY SONG which shifted to the outside of SPIRIT PATCH as that horse commenced to give ground. TURF BRILLIANT was held up for clear running from near the 350 Metres until after the 200 Metres. Passing the 300 Metres, THE FULL BLOOM was momentarily crowded for room inside SPIRIT PATCH which shifted in when continuing to give ground before being corrected by its rider. Throughout the race, WINWIN THIRTYTHREE travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of WONDER WIN and THE JOY OF GIVING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SPIRIT PATCH immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SPIRIT PATCH will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. THE FULL BLOOM, SMILING SUCCESS and WINWIN THIRTYTHREE were sent for sampling.