07/06/2020  Shatin  Race 3

WINNING FEELING was withdrawn on 5.6.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (blood on scoping after track work) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter EVER STRONG (H W Lai). Before being allowed to race again, WINNING FEELING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being placed in the barriers, LUCKY QUALITY became fractious which resulted in the bridle having to be adjusted. MIGHTY VALOR shifted out at the start and bumped NOBLE MAN. NOBLE MAN then shifted out, resulting in WOOD ON FIRE racing in restricted room inside BULB ELITE which became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by WOOD ON FIRE. CHIKORITA was crowded for room on jumping between EVER STRONG and THE ELITES which shifted out. ALLOY STAR and LUCKY QUALITY were both shifted across behind runners from wide barriers in the early stages. Near the 850 Metres, EVER STRONG raced tight between CHIKORITA which was awkwardly placed close to the heels of NOBLE MAN and SUPER EIGHTEEN which shifted in. Approaching the 300 Metres, ALLOY STAR was shifted out away from the heels of BULB ELITE Throughout the race, BULB ELITE travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. After the race, H T Mo stated that after being ridden along in the early stages to hold its position after racing tight between runners, WOOD ON FIRE did not travel comfortably throughout the middle stages and came under pressure rounding the Home Turn. He said WOOD ON FIRE then weakened in the Straight and, in his opinion, was not suited by today’s track conditions. A veterinary inspection of WOOD ON FIRE 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, WOOD ON FIRE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, A Hamelin stated that he was instructed to obtain a forward position on SUPER EIGHTEEN. He said after beginning well he noticed that MIGHTY VALOR had begun very well and a number of horses outside that horse were being vigorously ridden to obtain a forward position. He said whilst he believed that he could have improved his position to be racing outside the lead, he would have had to make a lot of use of SUPER EIGHTEEN and given that BULB ELITE and WOOD ON FIRE continued to be vigorously ridden until near the 900 Metres, he felt that it was in the best interests of SUPER EIGHTEEN to be steadied and obtain a trailing position behind BULB ELITE as this would have provided the horse with the best opportunity to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of BULB ELITE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. WOOD ON FIRE, MIGHTY VALOR and SO AWESOME were sent for sampling.