26/04/2020  Shatin  Race 6

COOL TEAM was withdrawn on 25.4.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter BUNDLE OF DELIGHT (V Borges). Before being allowed to race again, COOL TEAM will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. PICKEN shifted in at the start and bumped TOYCOON. BEAUTY SMILE began only fairly, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of HIGH RISE SOLDIER, causing HIGH RISE SOLDIER to become unbalanced and BEAUTY SMILE to lose ground. After this, BEAUTY SMILE was ridden along for some distance to obtain a more forward position. TOYCOON lost its left hind plate at the start. In the early stages, BUNDLE OF DELIGHT, HARMONY SPIRIT and SMART COUSIN were all steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Passing the 1000 Metres, HELLO BEAUTY and HIGH RISE SOLDIER bumped. From making the turn near the 900 Metres until rounding the Home Turn, E STAR got its head on the side, hung out and lost a considerable amount of ground when awkwardly placed close to the heels of PICKEN after the 800 Metres and THE DRIVE approaching the 600 Metres. The racing manners of E STAR were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, E STAR will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial around a bend. A veterinary inspection of E STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Approaching the 600 Metres, BUNDLE OF DELIGHT, which was racing behind E STAR, shifted to the outside of that horse as E STAR continued to give ground. This resulted in SMART COUSIN racing tight between E STAR and SACRED IBIS passing the 600 Metres. HELLO BEAUTY got its head on the side and lay out rounding the Home Turn. Near the 400 Metres, TOYCOON and HIGH RISE SOLDIER raced tight as TOYCOON attempted to shift to the outside of HELLO DADDY. TOYCOON was then shifted back in behind HELLO DADDY when unable to improve to the outside of that horse. This resulted in HIGH RISE SOLDIER momentarily racing in restricted room inside WELLINGTON. Close to the finishing line, BUNDLE OF DELIGHT was checked when crowded for room between HELLO BEAUTY which shifted out slightly and THE DRIVE (M L Yeung) which shifted in. M L Yeung was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure that he reacts quicker to his mounts shifting ground than he did on this occasion. After the race, C Y Ho reported that after steadying his mount in the early stages after HIGH RISE SOLDIER began well, the horse, when racing wide and without cover, travelled keenly and consequently he was not able to obtain cover in the early stages. He said when racing very wide after the 1200 Metres, he allowed his mount to improve into a more forward position closer to the rail. A veterinary inspection of HIGH RISE SOLDIER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the performance of WELLINGTON, Z Purton stated that as HELLO DADDY took some time to cross his mount in the early stages, WELLINGTON travelled keenly after the 1200 Metres when racing without cover. He said after being crossed by HELLO DADDY near the 1000 Metres, it took some time for HIGH RISE SOLDIER to be able to cross WELLINGTON and, when continuing to race without cover, WELLINGTON travelled keenly until HIGH RISE SOLDIER crossed to race outside HELLO DADDY. He said after this WELLINGTON did not relax as he had hoped with HELLO BEAUTY racing directly to its outside and when HELLO BEAUTY improved its position passing the 550 Metres, he was obliged to shift out from behind HIGH RISE SOLDIER so as not to be pocketed. He said after shifting to the outside of HIGH RISE SOLIDER, WELLINGTON travelled strongly, however, after being ridden along passing the 300 Metres did not quicken as he anticipated. He added WELLINGTON maintained its position until near the 100 Metres, however, the horse gave ground over the concluding stages. He said, in his opinion, the fact that WELLINGTON did not relax when racing over 1400 Metres for the first time today and carrying top weight accounted somewhat for the horse’s failure to finish off the race. Mr R Gibson, the trainer of WELLINGTON, said that the horse had pleased him since its last start success and had trialed particularly well in the lead up to today’s race. He said the only explanation he could offer for the disappointing performance of WELLINGTON over the concluding stages was that the horse may not have seen out the 1400 Metres of today’s race at its first time of asking. A veterinary inspection of WELLINGTON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of WELLINGTON, favourite for today’s race and which had won its previous three starts, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, WELLINGTON will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WELLINGTON, FANTASTIC SHOW and PICKEN were sent for sampling.