29/11/2020  Shatin  Race 8

ARMANDO was withdrawn on 28.11.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter ROYAL BOMB (B Shinn). Before being allowed to race again, ARMANDO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. BLAZING BEAT was crowded for room on jumping between LOCKHEED and WAR OF COURAGE which shifted out. ROYAL CAMPBELL shifted out abruptly at the start, resulting in ROYAL BOMB being crowded for room inside LIKE THAT. In this incident, both ROYAL CAMPBELL and LIKE THAT became unbalanced. When unbalanced, ROYAL CAMPBELL then shifted in and hampered SEA OF LIFE which began awkwardly. A short distance later, SEA OF LIFE was momentarily crowded for room between STARZ HERO and ROYAL CAMPBELL which shifted in. After this, ROYAL BOMB was steadied to obtain cover. Passing the 1100 Metres, ROYAL BOMB shifted in and bumped SEA OF LIFE. Passing the 1000 Metres, ROYAL CAMPBELL was steadied away from the heels of LIKE THAT (A Badel) which shifted in. A Badel was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure that he makes more effort to prevent his mounts from shifting ground and causing interference to other runners. Passing the 900 Metres, ROYAL CAMPBELL was left racing wide and without cover. SEA OF LIFE made the turn approaching the 800 Metres awkwardly, shifted out and inconvenienced ROYAL BOMB. SEA OF LIFE then shifted in, resulting in BELUGA being momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of that horse. Passing the 800 Metres, STARZ HERO got its head up when travelling keenly and being checked away from the heels of ROYAL CAMPBELL. Also passing the 800 Metres, BLAZING BEAT got its head up when awkwardly placed behind WAR OF COURAGE. BLAZING BEAT continued to prove difficult to settle and was awkwardly placed behind WAR OF COURAGE for some distance. BIG FORTUNE had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Approaching the 100 Metres, WAR OF COURAGE lay out, requiring its rider to change his whip over into his left hand passing the 100 Metres. When questioned, V Borges stated that he was instructed to shift BELUGA across behind runners from the wide barrier in the early stages to obtain cover which it was believed would be towards the rear of the field. He said he was asked to shift BELUGA to the outside of runners in the Straight if possible to allow the horse the best opportunity to finish off the race. He said after shifting BELUGA across towards the rear of the field in the early stages in accordance with his instructions, he was following BLAZING BEAT and SEA OF LIFE after the 500 Metres. He said although there was an opportunity to improve his position inside SEA OF LIFE, he was concerned that improving his position at this time would make it difficult for him to shift to the outside of runners in the Straight and therefore he elected not to improve to the inside of SEA OF LIFE but rather to direct BELUGA to the outside of SEA OF LIFE approaching the 400 Metres with a view to shifting further to the outside of STARZ HERO. He said however he had to direct BELUGA in near the 350 Metres when unable to obtain clear running behind SEA OF LIFE and STARZ HERO and inside ROYAL BOMB. He said after directing to the inside of SEA OF LIFE, he immediately commenced riding his mount along with a view to improving into tight running which was available between ROYAL CAMPBELL and SEA OF LIFE, however, BELUGA was crowded for room near the 100 Metres between SEA OF LIFE and JUNEAU PARK, both of which shifted ground. He said this resulted in BELUGA not being able to be properly tested. V Borges added that in retrospect BELUGA’s interests would have been better served by improving to the inside of SEA OF LIFE and following JUNEAU PARK through rather than attempting to come to the outside of SEA OF LIFE, however, he reiterated that he was attempting to comply with his instructions to get BELUGA to the outside of runners in the early part of the Straight if possible. A veterinary inspection of JUNEAU PARK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TEAM SPIRIT and LOCKHEED were sent for sampling.