07/11/2021  Shatin  Race 3

STUNNING IMPACT was withdrawn on 6.11.21 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter HERCULES (K Teetan). Before being allowed to race again, STUNNING IMPACT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Just prior to the start being effected, JIANGXI STAMINA got its head down and to the left which resulted in the horse losing ground. JIANGXI STAMINA then lost further ground when crowded for room on jumping between BIG BROOK and DARCI JOY which shifted out. SHANGHAI DRAGON shifted out at the start and bumped FOREVER. From a wide barrier, MAKE IT TURBO was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. HERCULES was also steadied shortly after the start to obtain cover. BIG BROOK was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn. In the early part of the Straight, LEADING FORTUNE got its head on the side and lay in under pressure and passing the 250 Metres was awkwardly placed outside the heels of JIANGXI STAMINA which shifted out. Close to the finishing line, DAILY CHARM shifted out away from the heels of GO GO SIXTEEN which was directed out by OSCAR GLORY. Throughout the race, FOREVER travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground and finished tailed out. A veterinary inspection of FOREVER immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. The performance of FOREVER was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FOREVER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As FOREVER was giving ground abruptly rounding the Home Turn, it was bumped by JIANGXI STAMINA which improved to be racing close to the heels of DARCI JOY. After the race, J Moreira was not able to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of LEADING FORTUNE which he said did not finish off its race. He said in the Straight LEADING FORTUNE lay in as it had done in its races in the past, however, he thought in today’s race the horse lay in to a greater extent than had previously been the case. A veterinary inspection of LEADING FORTUNE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Also after the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on UNIVERSAL HERO at the request of Trainer Y S Tsui. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, UNIVERSAL HERO will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of SUNNY BABY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DARCI JOY and OSCAR GLORY were sent for sampling.