30/05/2021  Shatin  Race 8

LUCKY FUN began only fairly. ENCOURAGED shifted out at the start and bumped MERIDIAN GENIUS. HEZA BEAUTY stumbled badly at the start. A short distance after the start, HEZA BEAUTY momentarily raced tight between SUNSET WATCH and STAR PERFORMANCE which shifted out. From the outside barriers, TANGMERE, LIFELINE VISION and TIANCHI MONSTER were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Rounding the Home Turn, FIGHTING STAR got its head on the side and lay out. Near the 400 Metres, STAR PERFORMANCE raced tight outside MERIDIAN GENIUS which lay out under pressure. After this, MERIDIAN GENIUS continued to lay out when being ridden out. Passing the 300 Metres, SUNSET WATCH got its head on the side and shifted out away from HEZA BEAUTY, resulting in SUNSET WATCH having to be steadied away from the heels of TRUE LEGEND. A short distance after this, SUNSET WATCH was steadied away from the heels of HEZA BEAUTY as that horse commenced to improve to the outside of FIGHTING STAR which lay out under pressure. LIFELINE VISION, which was racing to the outside of SUNSET WATCH, was hampered in consequence and shifted out across the heels of TRUE LEGEND, resulting in TANGMERE being shifted out away from the heels of LIFELINE VISION near the 250 Metres. After the race, TRUE LEGEND was reported to have sustained lacerations to the right hind heel bulb as well as to have lost the right hind plate. After the race, J Moreira stated that STAR PERFORMANCE raced disappointingly today. He said the horse was under pressure at the 500 Metres and then finished off the race only fairly over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of STAR PERFORMANCE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, K Teetan (TRUE LEGEND) stated that it was anticipated that GOOD VIEW CLARICO would lead which would provide TRUE LEGEND the opportunity to shift across with that runner and race outside GOOD VIEW CLARICO. He said despite being ridden along in the early stages, TRUE LEGEND did not show as much early speed as anticipated and as TEAM POWER was being aggressively ridden to the inside of GOOD VIEW CLARICO in the early stages, he had hoped to be able to obtain a trailing position behind the speed. He said passing the 1200 Metres FIGHTING STAR was being ridden along to obtain a forward position and therefore he elected to shift across behind that runner and obtain cover as TEAM POWER was not travelling well enough to be able to clear FIGHTING STAR. He said approaching the 1100 Metres TRUE LEGEND shifted out away from the heels of FIGHTING STAR which in turn shifted out away from SUNSET WATCH. He said because of the circumstances of the race in the early stages TRUE LEGEND raced further back in the field than had been intended. A veterinary inspection of TRUE LEGEND immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. A Badel stated that stepping up to 1400 Metres today, SUNSET WATCH raced further forward in the field than had been anticipated. He said SUNSET WATCH began very well and as his mount was showing more early speed than STAR PERFORMANCE, he allowed SUNSET WATCH to improve forward of that horse and obtain a position closer to the rail as he did not believe that it was reasonable to steady his mount in the early stages given that the horse was travelling better than STAR PERFORMANCE. A veterinary inspection of SUNSET WATCH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of FIGHTING STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. STAR PERFORMANCE, TEAM POWER and LUCKY FUN were sent for sampling.