28/03/2021  Shatin  Race 4

After being loaded into the barriers, BLAZING BEAT (K Teetan) became fractious, reared, briefly got its right front leg into the adjoining stall and then momentarily sat down. BLAZING BEAT was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. After the race, K Teetan stated that after travelling wide and without cover throughout the race, BLAZING BEAT came under pressure in the early part of the Straight and when giving ground in the Straight did not feel comfortable in its action. A veterinary inspection of BLAZING BEAT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The barrier manners and performance of BLAZING BEAT, which finished tailed out, were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BLAZING BEAT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SPEED FAY FAY shifted out at the start and bumped TELECOM ELITE which in turn shifted out and bumped COPARTNER AMBITION. NOBLE MAN began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped SUPER MISSION. Shortly after the start, ERNEST FEELING was steadied away from the heels of TELECOM ROCKET which got its head on the side and shifted out when being ridden along. From a wide barrier, KUNG FU TEA was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. GOLDEN FOUR was also steadied to obtain cover shortly after the start. From the outside barrier, BLAZING BEAT was steadied in the early stages with a view to obtaining cover, however, was left racing wide and without cover throughout the race. Passing the 1200 Metres, COPARTNER AMBITION raced tight inside ERNEST FEELING which shifted in away from the heels of TELECOM ROCKET. After the 1000 Metres, CHEERFUL DAYS was left racing wide and without cover. SUPER MISSION got its head on the side and made the turn after the 900 Metres awkwardly. After the 500 Metres, SPEED FAY FAY was steadied when improving into tight running between E BROTHER and TELECOM ELITE which at this time was racing tight inside the heels of TELECOM ROCKET. Passing the 300 Metres, KUNG FU TEA was shifted out away from the heels of SUPER MISSION as a result of both horses shifting ground. After this, KUNG FU TEA lay in under pressure and near the 150 Metres was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SUPER MISSION. B Shinn (TELECOM ELITE) dropped his right rein near the 200 Metres. Approaching the 50 Metres, VIVA POPCORN was shifted out away from the heels of TELECOM ROCKET to continue improving. B Shinn was fined the sum of $5,000 for using the whip over the concluding stages on a horse out of contention. When questioned, K C Leung stated that as SUPER MISSION was stepping up in distance today to 1400 Metres for the first time, he was asked to attempt to obtain a position in front of midfield with cover but not to ride his mount along to do so to ensure that it did not over-race. He said after allowing SUPER MISSION to begin well, he believed that he would have had to ride his mount along to clear ERNEST FEELING to his inside which would have been contrary to his instructions. He said he did consider to remain racing outside ERNEST FEELING, but when that horse improved its position approaching the 1200 Metres, he believed that this would have resulted in SUPER MISSION having to race wide and therefore he elected to steady his mount behind ERNEST FEELING to obtain cover and a position closer to the rail. He said this resulted in SUPER MISSION travelling further back in the field than had been anticipated. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of COPARTNER AMBITION, C Y Ho stated that he had ridden the horse in some of its track work in the lead up to today’s race and, in his opinion, that work was good albeit the horse was still green and immature in its work. He said unlike at its last start when the horse finished off the race strongly after travelling well throughout the race, COPARTNER AMBITION today did not travel strongly and he had to niggle at his mount along in the early stages to maintain its position behind TELECOM ELITE. He said after this COPARTNER AMBITION did not travel well and came under heavy pressure rounding the Home Turn. He added at its first up run COPARTNER AMBITION finished off the race very strongly, however, the horse was left flat-footed at the entrance to the Straight and then despite being ridden out was disappointing in its failure to close off. He added whilst COPARTNER AMBITION was disappointing, he believed that the horse would improve as today was only its second race start and that it is still immature and learning. A veterinary inspection of COPARTNER AMBITION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SUPER TEN and CHEERFUL DAYS were sent for sampling.