08/05/2021  Shatin  Race 10

BIGWOOD shifted in at the start, resulting in ELUSIVE STATE and GLORIOUS ARTIST being inconvenienced. THE ROCK shifted out at the start and bumped BERLIN TANGO. After this, THE ROCK and BERLIN TANGO were steadied to obtain cover. From the outside barrier, BEAR SLAM was also steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages. RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE was steadied to obtain cover in the early stages. After travelling a short distance, GLORIOUS ARTIST was awkwardly placed outside the heels of CONGRATULATION which shifted out. Passing the 700 Metres, CONGRATULATION, which was reluctant to maintain its position inside RED DESERT, lost ground when crowded for room inside RED DESERT which was taken in by BIGWOOD (M L Yeung) which shifted in. M L Yeung was reprimanded and advised that whilst he did not shift a great deal of ground in this incident, nonetheless he had placed pressure on RED DESERT which had contributed to CONGRATULATION losing ground. When CONGRATULATION lost ground, GLORIOUS ARTIST, which was following, was hampered when steadied away from the heels of that horse. RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE was also awkwardly placed close to the heels of GLORIOUS ARTIST in consequence. BERLIN TANGO was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight and approaching the 300 Metres was shifted to the outside of GLORIOUS ARTIST to continue improving. Passing the 300 Metres, RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE momentarily raced tight inside GLORIOUS ARTIST which shifted in away from the heels of BIGWOOD after being steadied away from that horse which was giving ground. After this, RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE and GLORIOUS ARTIST raced tight. Passing the 150 Metres, SUNSHINE WARRIOR was steadied away from the heels of BERLIN TANGO which, when finishing off the race strongly, improved to the outside of PRECIOUSSHIP (T Piccone) which shifted out. Whilst there were some circumstance to this incident, nonetheless T Piccone was advised to make every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances. Throughout the race, KINGS SHIELD and HIGHLAND FORTUNE travelled wide and without cover. The performances of KINGS SHIELD and CONGRATULATION, both of which finished tailed out, were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, KINGS SHIELD and CONGRATULATION 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 KINGS SHIELD, RED DESERT, CONGRATULATION and BIGWOOD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. HONGKONG GREAT and THE ROCK were sent for sampling.