13/12/2020  Shatin  Race 6

SUPER FOOTBALL began awkwardly. SPLENDOUR AND GOLD shifted out at the start and bumped HEZA BEAUTY which was in turn taken out onto SO WE JOY. PRESIDENT’S CHOICE shifted out abruptly at the start, resulting in LEWIS being crowded for room inside LUCKY PATCH which became unbalanced due to contact on the hindquarters. A A AGILITY began only fairly. BELUGA shifted in at the start and inconvenienced SHINY ONE. After this, from a wide barrier, SHINY ONE was shifted across behind runners. From a wide barrier, PURE LEGEND was also shifted across behind runners shortly after the start. Shortly after the start, SO WE JOY was crowded for room between PRESIDENT’S CHOICE which became unbalanced after being bumped by SO WE JOY and HEZA BEAUTY which shifted out after making contact with SPLENDOUR AND GOLD. Passing the 500 Metres, SPLENDOUR AND GOLD raced close to the heels of SUPER FOOTBALL. Also passing the 500 Metres, LEWIS raced tight outside HEZA BEAUTY which improved to the outside of BEAUTY SPIRIT. HEZA BEAUTY and LEWIS then brushed at the entrance to the Straight. SPLENDOUR AND GOLD had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. PURE LEGEND was held up for clear running approaching and passing the 400 Metres. Passing the 400 Metres, SUPER FOOTBALL was disappointed for running when attempting to improve into restricted room between EXCEPTIONAL NICE and LUCKY PATCH which shifted out. Passing the 300 Metres, SPLENDOUR AND GOLD raced tight outside the heels of SUPER FOOTBALL. Approaching the 200 Metres, SPLENDOUR AND GOLD, BEAUTY SPIRIT and HEZA BEAUTY were crowded for room between SUPER FOOTBALL which shifted out marginally and LEWIS which also shifted in marginally before being directed out. In this incident, LEWIS became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by HEZA BEAUTY. Near the 200 Metres, SO WE JOY, which was giving ground, was checked away from the heels of PURE LEGEND which, after being directed out by LEWIS (K Teetan), then shifted out away from that horse. K Teetan was reprimanded and advised that whilst the Stewards accepted that LEWIS was racing greenly in the Straight and had shifted ground on a number of occasions, nonetheless he was expected to react to his mounts shifting ground quicker than he did on this occasion. When questioned regarding the performance of HEZA BEAUTY, N Callan stated that his mount travelled slightly more keenly than it had at its previous starts as, in his opinion, the tempo of the race today was more sedate than in those races. He said HEZA BEAUTY was travelling strongly enough to ease out around horses rounding the Home Turn, however, in the early part of the Straight the horse did not quicken as it had done in its previous starts when ridden by him. He said although HEZA BEAUTY raced in restricted room passing the 300 Metres and was then hampered by LEWIS approaching the 200 Metres, HEZA BEAUTY was finishing off the race only fairly at this stage and was not going to finish in the placings. He added HEZA BEAUTY was disappointing in its failure to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of HEZA BEAUTY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of HEZA BEAUTY, a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, HEZA BEAUTY 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 PRESIDENT’S CHOICE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LUCKY PATCH and SUPER FOOTBALL were sent for sampling.