11/07/2021  Shatin  Race 8

CIRCUIT THREE began only fairly and was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 1500 Metres, GREEN LUCK shifted in and inconvenienced PRECIOUSSHIP. After the 1000 Metres, RATTAN was left racing wide and without cover. After the 800 Metres, BEAUTY SMILE got its head on the side and lay out. Near the 50 Metres, BEAUTY SMILE shifted in under pressure towards the hindquarters of CHAMPION’S WAY, resulting in BEAUTY SMILE having to be corrected. When questioned, A Hamelin stated that he was asked to ride BEAUTY SMILE in a position with cover behind the speed if possible from the outside barrier. He said after allowing his mount to begin positively, RELIABLE TEAM, a horse he anticipated would lead, was hard ridden in the early stages to obtain a forward position. He said as he did not believe that it was available to him to obtain a position behind the speed with cover as instructed, he elected to steady his mount and ensure that BEAUTY SMILE obtained a position behind another runner which resulted in his mount racing further back in the field than had been anticipated. When questioned regarding the performance of LUCKY EXPRESS, J Moreira stated that it was intended for the horse to be ridden in about a midfield position if possible. He said LUCKY EXPRESS began awkwardly and then in the early stages did not show early speed. He said he had to ride LUCKY EXPRESS along for some distance in the early stages to improve its position as he was concerned that the horse was getting too far out of its ground. He said he was able to improve his position to be racing behind FAST MOST FURIOUS near the 1200 Metres, but he was already concerned that the amount of use that he had to make of LUCKY EXPRESS in the early stages may result in it not being able to finish off the race. He added LUCKY EXPRESS travelled satisfactorily in the middle stages and rounding the Home Turn he shifted his mount out with a view to improving between GREEN LUCK and CHAMPION’S WAY. He said GREEN LUCK came under pressure sooner than he expected and when there was not sufficient room for him to improve to the outside of that horse, this resulted in LUCKY EXPRESS being steadied away from the heels of GREEN LUCK and having to be shifted to the inside of that horse. He added this resulted in LUCKY EXPRESS losing momentum at a critical stage of the race. He said after shifting to the inside of GREEN LUCK passing the 400 Metres, he then had to shift in further away from the heels of FAST MOST FURIOUS near the 350 Metres. He said after this he was able to obtain clear running, however, LUCKY EXPRESS finished off the race only fairly. He said whilst LUCKY EXPRESS was disappointing in today’s race, he believed that having to make use of the horse in the early stages, together with it losing momentum at the top of the Straight, provided a valid reason for the horse then not closing off the race as strongly as anticipated. A veterinary inspection of LUCKY EXPRESS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of LUCKY EXPRESS, favourite for today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY EXPRESS 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 RELIABLE TEAM immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, RELIABLE TEAM will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of TOURBILLON DIAMOND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LUCKY EXPRESS, PRECIOUSSHIP and CHAMPION’S WAY were sent for sampling.