06/09/2020  Shatin  Race 4

LUCKY GUY lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and began awkwardly. UNTOLD RICHES began awkwardly. MORE THAN ENOUGH shifted in at the start and bumped JUDY’S STAR. MORE THAN ENOUGH then shifted out and made contact with UNTOLD RICHES, causing both horses to become unbalanced. BRIGHT KID shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of FORTUNE MASTER. Shortly after the start, BREEZE OF SPRING was steadied away from the heels of WAR LORD which shifted in after being brushed by INTERSTELLAR. From the outside barriers, FRESH POWER and ROCKET HAMMER were steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After the 400 Metres, HAPPY TANGO was directed to the outside of JUDY’S STAR which was racing tight inside the heels of FORTUNE MASTER. HAPPY TANGO was then awkwardly placed close to the heels of JUDY’S STAR passing the 300 Metres as that horse was shifted to the outside of FORTUNE MASTER to obtain clear running. LUCKY GUY had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight and after being held up for clear running behind INTERSTELLAR passing the 200 Metres then raced tight between that horse and DAY DAY RICH until near the 150 Metres. Throughout the race, WAR LORD travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding his riding of COPARTNER ERA in the early and middle stages, V Borges stated that he had been asked to ride the horse quietly from the inside barrier as it finished off its most recent start strongly when ridden from a rearward position. He said in accordance with his instructions he relaxed COPARTNER ERA in the early stages and obtained a position on the rail behind LUCKY GUY which was drawn inside COPARTNER ERA. When questioned as to why he did not maintain his position inside HAPPY TANGO, V Borges stated that it was his intention to shift COPARTNER ERA to the outside of runners rounding the Home Turn to obtain clear running and therefore he elected not to ride his mount along to maintain his position behind LUCKY GUY and inside HAPPY TANGO and was comfortable to allow HAPPY TANGO to cross COPARTNER ERA to race on the rail after the 900 Metres. He added he shifted away from the rail after the 600 Metres and followed BREEZE OF SPRING rounding the Home Turn before immediately shifting COPARTNER ERA to the outside of BREEZE OF SPRING at the entrance to the Straight to obtain clear running. He said COPARTNER ERA again finished off the race strongly in the Straight. Mr W Y So, trainer of COPARTNER ERA, stated that, from barrier 2, he asked Jockey Borges not to rush the horse in the early stages and obtain a position in midfield or behind midfield. He said he based these instructions on the manner in which COPARTNER ERA had finished off the race strongly at its final start last season and he wished for the horse to be ridden in a similar manner. He said whilst he agreed that it was available for COPARTNER ERA to be more forward than it was in the middle stages, it was his intention for the horse to be ridden in a similar manner in its future race starts given that it again finished off the race strongly today. V Borges was told that his riding in the early and middle stages had come under notice as there was an opportunity for the horse to maintain its position behind LUCKY GUY and inside HAPPY TANGO rather than allowing HAPPY TANGO to cross COPARTNER ERA after the 900 Metres. He was told to ensure that he places his mounts in advantageous positions wherever appropriate circumstances permit. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of MORE THAN ENOUGH, A Badel stated that in accordance with his instructions, he rode his mount positively in the early stages to take up a forward position. He said he was able to cross JUDY’S STAR at the 1000 Metres and MORE THAN ENOUGH then travelled well behind INTERSTELLAR. He said he rode his mount along rounding the Home Turn, however, was unable to shift out at this time due to WAR LORD maintaining its position outside MORE THAN ENOUGH. He said whilst MORE THAN ENOUGH did not have clear running in the early part of the Straight, the horse, in his opinion, was not travelling strongly enough to be able to improve into running between INTERSTELLAR and WAR LORD and after obtaining clear running near the 200 Metres, MORE THAN ENOUGH was disappointing in its failure to finish off the race. He added that MORE THAN ENOUGH may improve with racing and he recommended to connections that they consider stepping the horse up in distance in its future starts. A veterinary inspection of MORE THAN ENOUGH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of INTERSTELLAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. UNTOLD RICHES, BRIGHT KID and BREEZE OF SPRING were sent for sampling.