05/07/2020  Shatin  Race 9

SACRED TIMING and CHEVALIER PRINCE bumped at the start. BULLETPROOF began only fairly. HAPPY WIN WIN, which was leaning on the outside of its barrier, began awkwardly. Then from a wide barrier, HAPPY WIN WIN was shifted across behind runners. SUNNY POWER and SUN OF MAKFI bumped at the start. For some distance approaching and passing the 1300 Metres, SUN OF MAKFI (B Shinn) proved very difficult and was awkwardly placed behind SANGRIA. SUN OF MAKFI then shifted out away from the heels of SANGRIA approaching the 1200 Metres when attempting to improve between SANGRIA and GORGEOUS INHERITOR where there was insufficient room. This resulted in GORGEOUS INHERITOR being shifted out to prevent causing interference to SUN OF MAKFI. B Shinn stated that SUN OF MAKFI continued to prove very difficult to settle and consequently was not able to finish off the race. Making the turn near the 900 Metres, HUMBLE STEED got its head up and was awkwardly placed inside SO WE JOY. CALIFORNIA LEGEND lost its left hind plate in the middle stages. Near the 650 Metres, SUN OF MAKFI raced tight outside SUNNY POWER which improved to be racing tight between that horse and HUMBLE STEED. Passing the 400 Metres, PERFECT TO PLAY was crowded for room inside SO WE JOY (J Moreira) which shifted to the inside of SACRED TIMING. J Moreira was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground in similar circumstances. After improving to be racing to the outside of the heels of BULLETPROOF passing the 400 Metres, HAPPY WIN WIN was taken out by that horse which shifted out marginally. HAPPY WIN WIN then shifted out away from BULLETPROOF, causing HUMBLE STEED to be hampered when awkwardly placed close to the heels of HAPPY WIN WIN. Throughout the race, GORGEOUS INHERITOR travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. As this was the second consecutive occasion that GORGEOUS INHERITOR had finished tailed out in its races, the Stewards ruled that that horse must perform satisfactorily in not less than three consecutive barrier trials and be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again. A veterinary inspection of GORGEOUS INHERITOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in whilst they considered if APEX TOP had been afforded a fair start. After viewing the videos, it was established that immediately prior to the start being effected, APEX TOP became fractious and put its head down, resulting in its rider, C Schofield, becoming unbalanced and reaching out with his right hand onto the barrier structure to regain balance. It was further established that when he did this, the start was effected and this resulted in APEX TOP losing a considerable amount of ground. As the Stewards were satisfied that APEX TOP had caused its own difficulties by becoming fractious just prior to the start being effected and that the Starter could not have been in a position to anticipate APEX TOP’s behaviour, that horse was found to have been afforded a fair start and accordingly was declared a runner. Whilst it did not influence the decision of the Stewards, neither C Schofield nor the connections of APEX TOP made application for the horse to be declared a non-runner. Before being allowed to race again, APEX TOP will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. A veterinary inspection of TELECOM ROCKET, SUN OF MAKFI and APEX TOP immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SO WE JOY and CHEVALIER PRINCE were sent for sampling.