23/05/2021  Shatin  Race 5

BULLISH GLORY shifted out at the start and bumped VICTORIOUS SEEKER. DONC JE SUIS was slow to begin. SHANGHAI DRAGON began awkwardly and shifted out, resulting in JOYFUL HEART being crowded for room inside CHEEKY PRAWN which became unbalanced, shifted out and bumped EVER LAUGH which also became unbalanced. MCMUNIGAL began awkwardly and then shortly after the start was bumped by PLAY WISE which shifted out. Despite being ridden along, MCMUNIGAL then failed to muster speed and approaching the winning post on the first occasion was shifted across behind runners in an attempt to obtain cover, however, for the majority of the race travelled wide and without cover. BULLISH GLORY lost its left front plate shortly after the start. From the outside barrier, EZRA was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. After being ridden along in the early stages from a wide barrier, NUREMBERG was slow to muster speed and approaching the winning post on the first occasion was steadied and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Near the 1900 Metres, ZHAN JIANG ROCKS was awkwardly placed inside the heels of BULLISH GLORY. Approaching and passing the 1200 Metres, DAILY CHARM and CHEEKY PRAWN raced tight. SHANGHAI DRAGON lost its left front plate in the middle stages. Passing the 1000 Metres, BULLISH GLORY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of PLAY WISE (M F Poon). After the race, M F Poon stated that inside the 1000 Metres PLAY WISE became unbalanced in its action which indicated to him that the horse may have been galloped on. A veterinary inspection of PLAY WISE immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a laceration above the back of the left hock. Approaching the 800 Metres, PLAY WISE raced close to the heels of DAILY CHARM. Rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, CHEEKY PRAWN and EVER LAUGH raced tight as CHEEKY PRAWN attempted to shift out from behind SHANGHAI DRAGON. PLAY WISE was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight. CLEMENT LEGEND also had some difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 400 Metres. Passing the 200 Metres, MCMUNIGAL momentarily raced tight inside DONC JE SUIS. When questioned regarding the performance of JOYFUL HEART, Z Purton attributed a large part of the horse’s disappointing performance to being hampered on jumping. He said when bumped by SHANGHAI DRAGON on jumping, JOYFUL HEART travelled keenly in the early and middle stages and would not relax. He said JOYFUL HEART may have choked down in today’s race as after enjoying an economical run on the rail, the horse was then not able to pick up when placed under pressure at the entrance to the Straight. He said a run to the inside of SHANGHAI DRAGON presented itself approaching the 300 Metres, however, JOYFUL HEART was not travelling strongly enough to improve into the run and after being momentarily awkwardly placed behind SHANGHAI DRAGON as that horse gave ground after the 300 Metres, JOYFUL HEART weakened noticeably over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of JOYFUL HEART immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. The performance of JOYFUL HEART, favourite for today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, JOYFUL HEART will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of SHANGHAI DRAGON, K Teetan stated that the horse, which was attempting the 2000 Metres for the first time, was inclined to lay out after passing the winning post on the first occasion and attempted to pull up after the 1700 Metres. He said it was not until EVER LAUGH improved its position to the outside of SHANGHAI DRAGON passing the 1600 Metres that the horse commenced to travel more genuinely. He said approaching the 1400 Metres he had to ride his mount along as SHANGHAI DRAGON again was reluctant to hold its position. He added SHANGHAI DRAGON did not travel strongly at any stage of the race and he was concerned as far out as the 1200 Metres that the horse was not going to finish off its race. He said SHANGHAI DRAGON came under heavy pressure after the 500 Metres and after being inclined to lay out in the early part of the Straight weakened noticeably over the concluding stages. He said following today’s race he advised connections to consider dropping the horse back in distance as he felt that SHANGHAI DRAGON would be better suited in races less than the 2000 Metres of today’s race and which would also reduce the impact of having to go around the Stable Bend after the winning post on the first occasion. A veterinary inspection of SHANGHAI DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of SHANGHAI DRAGON, a winner of its two most recent starts, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SHANGHAI DRAGON 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 CHEEKY PRAWN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. JOYFUL HEART, DONC JE SUIS and NUREMBERG were sent for sampling.