16/05/2021  Shatin  Race 6

PERFECT TO PLAY, which was very fractious in the barriers, bounded in the air at the start and hit its head on the overhead barrier structure. This resulted in PERFECT TO PLAY losing ground. Before being allowed to race again, PERFECT TO PLAY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. A veterinary inspection of PERFECT TO PLAY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CITY LEGEND was crowded for room on jumping between TELECOM CHEETAH and OFF THE REEL which began awkwardly and shifted in. After this, CITY LEGEND and OFF THE REEL were shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. From the outside barrier, DARCI JOY was also steadied to obtain cover shortly after the start. After the 1100 Metres, MORE THAN A HORSE got its head up when awkwardly placed behind TELECOM CHEETAH. MAGIC BONUS got its head on the side and lay out rounding the Home Turn. At the entrance to the Straight, GOOD BUDDY shifted out and was momentarily awkwardly placed inside the heels of OSCAR GLORY. Passing the 300 Metres, MORE THAN A HORSE was crowded for room between OFF THE REEL which shifted in marginally and TELECOM CHEETAH which was taken out by DARCI JOY which got its head on the side and shifted out abruptly despite the efforts of its rider. After this, DARCI JOY continued to lay out under pressure. Passing the 200 Metres, CITY LEGEND was directed to the inside of SHADOW BREAKER to obtain clear running. Also passing the 200 Metres, FAITHFUL TRINITY was steadied away from the heels of PERFECT TO PLAY (C Wong) which shifted in. C Wong was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. When easing TELECOM CHEETAH down after the race, M F Poon was dislodged without incident. Throughout the race, OSCAR GLORY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the improved performance of MERCURIAL, Mr A S Cruz, the trainer of MERCURIAL, attributed last start performance to the manner in which it began. He said at its last start MERCURIAL began only fairly which resulted in the horse having to be ridden along in the early stages to obtain a forward position. He said, in his opinion, because of this MERCURIAL was not able to finish off the race. He said in today’s race MERCURIAL began well and was able to take up a forward position easily which resulted in the horse being able to close off the race strongly. He added he was of the opinion that MERCURIAL had benefited from being able to be freshened up at Conghua since its last start. He said this was the horse’s first time away from Sha Tin and that this had benefited MERCURIAL mentally. A veterinary inspection of MORE THAN A HORSE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, MORE THAN A HORSE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GLUCK RACER, MERCURIAL and GOOD BUDDY were sent for sampling.