11/04/2021  Shatin  Race 7

At the time of declaration, Apprentice C L Chau notified a probable overweight of 2 lbs in respect of VOYAGE STAR’s weight of 113 lbs having regard to Apprentice Chau’s 7 lb allowance. Apprentice Chau then weighed out 2 lbs overweight and on return to scale weighed in at 116 lbs. As Apprentice Chau weighed in 3 lbs over the weight notified at the time of declaration having regard to his allowance, he was fined the sum of $6,000. GRAND POWER began only fairly and then was crowded for room between SPLIT OF A SECOND and DANDY YEARS, both of which shifted ground. PLIKCLONE began awkwardly and then was hampered when racing tight inside ULTIMATE GLORY which shifted in. PLIKCLONE was then ridden along to obtain a forward position and for the majority of the race travelled wide and without cover. SAM’S LOVE began only fairly and shifted out towards the heels of BOND A STAR. From the outside barrier, APEX TOP was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. In the early stages, SPLIT OF A SECOND travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover behind DANDY YEARS and near the 1250 Metres became unbalanced when bumped by DANDY YEARS. After this, SPLIT OF A SECOND travelled keenly. EVERYONE’S DELIGHT lost its right hind plate in the middle stages. Rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, EVERYONE’S DELIGHT and DANDY YEARS raced tight as DANDY YEARS attempted to shift out to obtain clear running. DANDY YEARS then also had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Approaching the 200 Metres, MASTER HERO raced tight outside GREEN ENVY which shifted out under pressure. Near the 150 Metres, APEX TOP was awkwardly placed behind SPLIT OF A SECOND when racing tight inside DIAMOND PIXIU. When questioned, H N Wong stated that racing over 1400 Metres today, SPLIT OF A SECOND travelled keenly in the early stages. He said making the turn near the 900 Metres SPLIT OF A SECOND was racing tight between DANDY YEARS and EVERYONE’S DELIGHT and he was reluctant to ride his mount along at this stage as he attempted to get SPLIT OF A SECOND to relax better. He said for this reason he elected not to continue to pursue the position between EVERYONE’S DELIGHT and DANDY YEARS and obtained a trailing position behind EVERYONE’S DELIGHT in order for SPLIT OF A SECOND to relax. When questioned regarding his riding out of ULTIMATE GLORY, 6th placegetter, over the concluding stages, H W Lai stated that after the 100 Metres ULTIMATE GLORY’s run finished and he was unsure whether to continue to ride the horse out with the whip. He said he had a look to his inside at about the 75 Metres to establish whether ULTIMATE GLORY was in contention of running a placing. He said when he established that ULTIMATE GLORY was out of the first five placings, he then put the whip away and rode his mount hands and heels over the concluding stages. Given the margin of three quarters of a length between DANDY YEARS, the 5th placegetter, and ULTIMATE GLORY, the Stewards decided to take no further action other than to advise H W Lai of the necessity to ride his mounts out all the way to the end of the race. He was further warned against the practice of looking around in races. A veterinary inspection of DANDY YEARS, PLIKCLONE, VOYAGE STAR and APEX TOP immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DANDY YEARS, EVERYONE’S DELIGHT and GREEN ENVY were sent for sampling.