25/04/2021  Shatin  Race 1

AMAZING BOY was slow to begin. MISSION SMART shifted out at the start and bumped ENCHANTING START. FORTUNE MASTER shifted in at the start, resulting in TOP ACCOLADE being crowded for room and losing ground. SEA MONARCH shifted out at the start and bumped ERNEST FEELING. HALL OF CHAMP was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Passing the 1000 Metres, FORTUNE MASTER raced tight inside ENCHANTING START which got its head on the side and lay in away from VIVA POPCORN. As the pace of the race slackened after the 1000 Metres, VIVA POPCORN commenced to prove very difficult to settle and got its head up on a number of occasions when racing in restricted room between CITY LEGEND and BIG TWO which was racing tight inside SUPER MISSION (K C Leung). Then making the turn after the 900 Metres, VIVA POPCORN again got its head up and was checked when continuing to prove very difficult to settle and shifted out abruptly across the heels of BIG TWO which continued to race tight inside SUPER MISSION. K C Leung was advised that whilst there were a number of factors associated with this incident, namely the racing manners of VIVA POPCORN and the tempo of the race at the time, nonetheless he had shifted in when not properly clear of BIG TWO which had contributed to the interference to VIVA POPCORN. K C Leung was severely reprimanded and told to ensure that he leaves comfortable racing room for runners to his inside in similar circumstances. When VIVA POPCORN was checked, it shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of CITY LEGEND which became unbalanced. ENCHANTING START, which was following VIVA POPCORN and proving difficult to settle, was checked away from the heels of that horse in consequence and in doing so shifted in, resulting in FORTUNE MASTER being crowded for room and taken in across the running of TOP ACCOLADE. VIVA POPCORN then ran out and shifted out across the heels of BIG TWO, resulting in HALL OF CHAMP being hampered and taken wider. Passing the 800 Metres, ENCHANTING START, which continued to travel keenly, got its head up when being checked away from the heels of CITY LEGEND. Passing the 700 Metres, FORTUNE MASTER got its head up and became badly unbalanced when being checked away from the heels of MISSION SMART. TOP ACCOLADE, which was following, was checked away from the heels of FORTUNE MASTER in consequence. Also passing the 700 Metres, ENCHANTING START, which continued to race keenly, shifted out abruptly away from the heels of BIG TWO, resulting in VIVA POPCORN being bumped and taken wider. After this, VIVA POPCORN got its head on the side, lay out and made the turns awkwardly. Approaching the 500 Metres, MISSION SMART was awkwardly placed behind RUBY STARS. Near the 350 Metres, FORTUNE MASTER shifted out away from the heels of CITY LEGEND which shifted out. Throughout the race, SUPER MISSION travelled wide and without cover. Both M L Yeung (SEA MONARCH) and A Hamelin (ERNEST FEELING) were told to ensure that they do not unnecessarily take the pace out of races which can have the result of horses back in the field being placed in an awkward position. After the race, Z Purton stated that it was intended for ENCHANTING START to be ridden in a forward position, however, after being bumped at the start the horse did not show any early speed and consequently raced further back in the field than had been intended. A veterinary inspection of ENCHANTING START immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right hind leg and also to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. Before being allowed to race again, ENCHANTING START will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Also after the race, K Teetan advised the Stewards that it was intended for FORTUNE MASTER to be ridden in a forward position. He said after beginning awkwardly, he rode FORTUNE MASTER along, however, the horse did not show any early speed and consequently was not able to obtain a forward position. A veterinary inspection of FORTUNE MASTER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MISSION SMART immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MISSION SMART, HALL OF CHAMP and SUPER MISSION were sent for sampling.