29/03/2020  Shatin  Race 5

XPONENTIAL was withdrawn on 28.3.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter ARDENODE (H W Lai). Before being allowed to race again, XPONENTIAL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SPEEDY DRAGON was slow to begin. BEAUT BEAUT and HERO STAR came into contact at the start. VICTORY MASTERY shifted in at the start and inconvenienced GALLANT LEGACY. From wide barriers, STOCK LEGEND and TEAM POWER were steadied and shifted across behind runners soon after the start. SUPER EIGHTEEN travelled wide and without cover until passing the 700 Metres at which stage BEAUT BEAUT was left racing wide and without cover. Throughout the middle stages, RUN THE TABLE raced greenly and after the 700 Metres shifted in momentarily, resulting in ARDENODE being crowded for room. At the entrance to the Straight, ARDENODE got its head up and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of VICTORY MASTERY which shifted to the outside of JADE PHOENIX to improve. Approaching the 300 Metres, GALLANT LEGACY was checked away from the heels of SUPER EIGHTEEN and shifted to the outside of that horse when unable to proceed into tight running between SUPER EIGHTEEN and SO AWESOME. In this incident, GALLANT LEGACY clipped the heels of SUPER EIGHTEEN and became unbalanced. Passing the 300 Metres, RUN THE TABLE was checked when crowded for room between TEAM POWER and ARDENODE which, after improving to the outside of BEAUT BEAUT, was then taken out slightly by that horse. As the Stewards were satisfied that there was no rider error involved in this incident, no further action was taken. After leaving the 300 Metres, ARDENODE was checked when crowded for room between TEAM POWER and BEAUT BEAUT which, after being taken out by VICTORY MASTERY (N Callan) which shifted to the outside of the heels of JADE PHOENIX to obtain clear running, then shifted out away from that runner. In assessing this incident, the Stewards were satisfied that the racing manners of ARDENODE had exacerbated the incident and that BEAUT BEAUT had also contributed by shifting away from VICTORY MASTERY, nonetheless N Callan was severely reprimanded and advised to exercise more care when shifting ground in similar circumstances. After the 300 Metres, SO AWESOME was steadied when disappointed for running between GOKO which shifted out marginally under pressure and SUPER EIGHTEEN which got its head on the side and shifted in under pressure. SO AWESOME then remained held up behind GOKO until passing the 100 Metres. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that ARDENODE had sustained a minor laceration to the left hind fetlock. A veterinary inspection of JADE PHOENIX immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. JADE PHOENIX GRADE ONE and TEAM POWER were sent for sampling.