13/11/2021  Shatin  Race 5

CHICKEN DANCE was withdrawn on 12.11.21 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FLYING GIANT (H T Mo). Before being allowed to race again, CHICKEN DANCE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Trainer D J Hall was fined the sum of $3,000 for presenting FLYING GIANT in the Parade Ring without a parade hood, part of that horse’s declared gear. FLYING GIANT shifted in at the start and bumped PINS PRINCE. DAILY BEAUTY shifted out at the start and brushed SMART WONGCHOY. From a wide barrier, MARVEL DRAGON was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. When being ridden along to maintain its position after the 1200 Metres, FLYING GIANT lay in and passing the 900 Metres shifted in, resulting in MOST WELCOME being crowded for room. Approaching the 1100 Metres, LUCKY ARCHANGEL was awkwardly placed outside the heels of STREET SCREAM when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse. LUCKY ARCHANGEL was then shifted in and approaching the 900 Metres was directed out to avoid crowding FORTUNE MASTER on its inside. Passing the 900 Metres, PINS PRINCE, which was being steadied to obtain cover, commenced to travel keenly and got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of SMART WONGCHOY (C L Chau) which shifted in when not properly clear. C L Chau was advised that whilst the inexperience of PINS PRINCE had contributed to this incident, nonetheless he must ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. SHINY TWO made the turn after the 900 Metres awkwardly and became unbalanced. SHINY TWO then raced in restricted room approaching the 800 Metres inside ALL YOU KNOW which got its head on the side and lay in. Passing the 800 Metres, STREET SCREAM was left racing wide and without cover. At the entrance to the Straight, STREET SCREAM, which lay in, was awkwardly placed outside the heels of GOOD NEWS which shifted out. After this, STREET SCREAM continued to lay in under pressure. ALL YOU KNOW had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. FORTUNE MASTER lay in under pressure in the Straight. After the race, C Schofield stated that he had to make considerable use of GOOD NEWS in the early stages to cross runners to its inside from barrier 10. He said it was not until near the 800 Metres that he was able to clear PEGASUS GLORY and race outside the lead. He said after this GOOD NEWS travelled greenly and lay out rounding the Home Turn. He said whilst GOOD NEWS was somewhat disappointing in its failure to finish off its race, he did attribute this to the amount of use that he had to make of the horse in the early stages to obtain a forward position. A veterinary inspection of GOOD NEWS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of MOST WELCOME, A Badel stated that he was asked to ride the horse positively from barrier 2 and obtain a forward position. He said MOST WELCOME was slow to begin and then despite being ridden along in the early stages was unable to muster speed and consequently raced much further back in the field than had been intended. He said he attempted to improve his position approaching and passing the 1000 Metres, however, after racing in restricted room inside FLYING GIANT near the 900 Metres, his mount lay in and he was unable to continue to attempt to obtain a more forward position. He added MOST WELCOME travelled only fairly in the middle stages when racing back in the field and then in the Straight was one-paced and finished off the race only fairly. He added whilst MOST WELCOME was disappointing in today’s race, he did attribute the horse’s failure to run on to the manner in which it began which resulted in the horse racing towards the rear of the field. A veterinary inspection of MOST WELCOME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of MOST WELCOME, favourite for today’s race and which finished second last, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MOST WELCOME will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. MOST WELCOME, PINS PRINCE and SMART WONGCHOY were sent for sampling.