12/07/2020  Shatin  Race 10

FLYING VICTORY was withdrawn on 11.7.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore and right hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter KASI FARASI (Apprentice K H Chan). Before being allowed to race again, FLYING VICTORY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As the start was effected, HEZA BEAUTY became fractious and bounded in the air, resulting in its rider, J Moreira, becoming badly unbalanced and momentarily losing the use of his right stirrup iron. This resulted in HEZA BEAUTY losing ground. Before being allowed to race again, HEZA BEAUTY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. FLYING SWORD and STANLEY PARK bumped at the start. GREAT TREASURE was slow to begin. From a wide barrier, MERRYGOWIN was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. From the outside barrier, AWE was also steadied in the early stages, however, travelled wide and without cover throughout the race. Approaching the 1300 Metres, FLYING SWORD raced tight inside STANLEY PARK which shifted in before being directed back out to relieve the tightening to FLYING SWORD. Making the turn after the 900 Metres, GUY DRAGON got its head up when awkwardly placed behind ALCARI. ALCARI lay out making the turn approaching and passing the 600 Metres. Near the 250 Metres, HEZA BEAUTY was shifted out away from the heels of STANLEY PARK to continue improving. KASI FARASI, which was racing outside HEZA BEAUTY, was shifted out away from the heels of that horse in consequence. When KASI FARASI was shifted out, ULTIMATE GLORY was then directed to the outside of LOBO’S LEGEND when unable to continue improving between LOBO’S LEGEND and KASI FARASI. When questioned regarding CRAIG’S STAR being ridden back in the field from barrier 13, Mr C S Shum, the trainer of the horse, stated that he received a request from the owners of CRAIG’S STAR for the horse to be ridden quietly as it was felt that CRAIG’S STAR weakened over the concluding stages last start when ridden in a forward position from a more favourable barrier. He said the owners were of the view that too much use would have to be made of the horse from the wide barrier and therefore it may again be unable to finish off the race. Mr Shum stated that having considered that a number of horses had been able to race well today when ridden from off the speed, he agreed with the request from the owners and accordingly instructed M Chadwick, the rider of the horse, to shift CRAIG’S STAR across behind runners in the early stages. He said he also instructed Jockey Chadwick to bring the horse to the outside if at all possible as he felt that this would provide CRAIG’S STAR with the best opportunity to finish off the race. He added whilst he was disappointed with the circumstances of the race which resulted in CRAIG’S STAR not being able to get to the outside, he was nonetheless satisfied with the way that CRAIG’S STAR finished off the race over the concluding stages when ridden more quietly. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that MERRYGOWIN was lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, MERRYGOWIN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of AWE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HEZA BEAUTY, PRIVATE ROCKET and ALCARI were sent for sampling.