13/12/2020  Shatin  Race 5

AMAZING STAR shifted out at the start and bumped JOLLY BANNER. BIG PARTY began awkwardly and then was bumped by RATTAN which shifted out. BIG TIME BABY and COMPUTER PATCH made contact at the start. From wide barriers, TOWER OF LONDON and FAT TURTLE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. WISHFUL THINKER was also steadied to obtain cover shortly after the start. After the 1000 Metres, CLASSIQUE LEGEND was awkwardly placed inside RATTAN. CLASSIQUE LEGEND was then awkwardly placed behind JOLLY BANNER which was steadied to obtain cover behind DANON SMASH. At the same stage, CLASSIQUE LEGEND was bumped by RATTAN which was taken in by TOWER OF LONDON which was then directed out to relieve the tightening. CLASSIQUE LEGEND then shifted out making the turn near the 850 Metres and inconvenienced RATTAN. At the entrance to the Straight, JOLLY BANNER was crowded for room between COMPUTER PATCH and AMAZING STAR (Z Purton) which shifted out. Z Purton was severely reprimanded and told to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. When JOLLY BANNER was crowded for room, it shifted out away from the heels of COMPUTER PATCH, resulting in CLASSIQUE LEGEND, which was commencing to improve to the outside of JOLLY BANNER, being steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. WISHFUL THINKER had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Passing the 300 Metres, HOT KING PRAWN raced tight when improving into restricted room between VOYAGE WARRIOR and BIG PARTY. Near the 150 Metres, AMAZING STAR raced tight inside the heels of VOYAGE WARRIOR. STRONGER lost its left front plate after the race. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of CLASSIQUE LEGEND, C Y Ho stated that whilst he would have preferred to have raced away from the rail, the circumstances of the race in the run to the first turn resulted in him being placed on the inside. He said after being awkwardly placed behind JOLLY BANNER near the 900 Metres, CLASSIQUE LEGEND then came off the bridle and did not travel comfortably for the remainder of the race. He added CLASSIQUE LEGEND did not quicken when placed under pressure and then failed to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of CLASSIQUE LEGEND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of CLASSIQUE LEGEND, a favoured runner in today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, CLASSIQUE LEGEND will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of BIG TIME BABY immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils A veterinary inspection of AMAZING STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HOT KING PRAWN, DANON SMASH and JOLLY BANNER were sent for sampling.