05/04/2021  Shatin  Race 4

DARCI JOY, which was fractious in the barriers, began very awkwardly, shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of DURHAM STAR, causing DURHAM STAR to become unbalanced and DARCI JOY to lose ground. HONEST WAY shifted in at the start and inconvenienced LUCKY TREASURE. U W BROTHER shifted out at the start and bumped TRADER. U W BROTHER was then bumped by PARTY GENIUS (K Teetan) which shifted out. As a result of the contact between PARTY GENIUS and U W BROTHER, PARTY GENIUS became badly unbalanced. K Teetan stated that he was instructed to be positive on PARTY GENIUS, however, when the horse became badly unbalanced, it appeared to put in a wrong stride which resulted in the horse not being able to show as much early speed as anticipated. He said because of PARTY GENIUS’ circumstances at the start, he elected to shift the horse across behind runners and obtain cover as he did not believe that it would be in the best interests of PARTY GENIUS to be ridden along in the early stages to make up lost ground. CORDYCEPS ONE began awkwardly and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After travelling a short distance, LUCKY TREASURE was bumped by HONEST WAY which shifted in, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. Approaching the 1100 Metres, LUCKY TREASURE got its head up when proving difficult to settle. Then after the 1100 Metres, LUCKY TREASURE again got its head up and shifted in abruptly away from the heels of HONEST WAY, resulting in LUCKY TREASURE losing ground. Approaching the 900 Metres, LUCKY TREASURE got its head up when being checked away from the heels of DARCI JOY. LUCKY TREASURE then got its head on the side and hung out abruptly across the heels of CORDYCEPS ONE, resulting in LUCKY TREASURE losing a significant amount of ground. The racing manners of LUCKY TREASURE, which also hung out at its first start in a race, were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY TREASURE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a series of consecutive barrier trials around a bend. Approaching the 700 Metres, U W BROTHER raced tight inside HOT CHILI PEPPER which shifted in marginally. Near the 550 Metres, DARCI JOY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of TEAM GOODLUCK after attempting to improve between that horse and HONEST WAY where there was insufficient room. At the entrance to the Straight, TEAM GOODLUCK was momentarily awkwardly placed outside the heels of DURHAM STAR. Passing the 300 Metres, HOT CHILI PEPPER, which was giving ground, shifted in away from PARTY GENIUS and in doing so bumped SUPER FLAMES, causing both horses to become unbalanced. DARCI JOY raced greenly under pressure in the Straight and shifted ground on a number of occasions. A Badel (HOT CHILI PEPPER) stated that after being instructed to obtain a forward position behind the leaders if possible from the outside barrier, he rode his mount along in the early stages after it shifted out on jumping. He said it became apparent to him that after the 1000 Metres he would not be able to obtain cover and as the rider of TRADER appeared to be steadying the tempo in the lead, he believed that it would be a better option for him to continue forward on HOT CHILI PEPPER rather than covering unnecessary ground. He said when he did this U W BROTHER continued to maintain its position between HOT CHILI PEPPER and TRADER and therefore he had to make a lot of use of his mount in the middle stages to clear that horse. He added HOT CHILI PEPPER came under pressure at the entrance to the Straight and then gave ground noticeably thereafter which he attributed to the amount of use that he had to make of the horse in the early and middle stages. Mr C S Shum, the trainer of HOT CHILI PEPPER, stated that he was of the opinion that a number of horses, which were drawn wide, would be ridden to obtain a forward position today and he felt that an opportunity may exist for HOT CHILI PEPPER to obtain a trailing position three wide but with cover if those horses were ridden to obtain a forward position as anticipated. He said because of the circumstances of the race HOT CHILI PEPPER was not able to obtain a trailing position which resulted in the horse being ridden more forward than he had anticipated. A veterinary inspection of HOT CHILI PEPPER immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer”. A veterinary inspection of HONEST WAY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. It was subsequently reported by the Veterinary Surgeon that HONEST WAY was found to be lame in the right hind leg on returning to the stable. Before being allowed to race again, HONEST WAY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. TRADER and PARTY GENIUS were sent for sampling.