27/12/2021  Shatin  Race 8

SPARKY STAR was withdrawn on 26.12.21 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (swollen left front leg) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter PRIDE OF DRAGON (H N Wong). Before being allowed to race again, SPARKY STAR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. KING DRAGON shifted in at the start and bumped CHEERFUL LEADER. DANDY YEARS shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of PEAK TO PEAK. WONDERFUL FANTASY and CHATER PINS bumped on jumping. After this, WONDERFUL FANTASY and CHATER PINS were shifted across behind runners from wide barriers. From the outside barriers, ERNEST FEELING and NICHOLSON RETURNS were also steadied to obtain cover in the early stages. Approaching and passing the 1100 Metres, CHATER PINS proved difficult to settle and was awkwardly placed behind WONDERFUL FANTASY. Passing the 400 Metres, FLYING SWORD was shifted out away from the heels of DANDY YEARS which was taken out by SIGHT SPIRIT. At the 300 Metres, HEARTY WISH was shifted out away from the heels of CHEERFUL LEADER. Near the 250 Metres, KING DRAGON was bumped by PRIDE OF DRAGON which, after initially being taken in by ERNEST FEELING, then got its head on the side and shifted in away from that horse. In this incident, PRIDE OF DRAGON was momentarily awkwardly placed outside the heels of CHATER PINS. Approaching the 150 Metres, PEAK TO PEAK was steadied away from the heels of SNOWALOT (B Shinn) which lay out under pressure in the Straight. B Shinn was reprimanded and told to ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances. Throughout the race, PRIDE OF DRAGON travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, L Ferraris (FLYING SWORD) stated that he was given two sets of instructions. He said if the tempo of the race was not strong in the early stages and FLYING SWORD was able to obtain the lead without having to be ridden along, then he should attempt to lead. He said however that if he had to ride his mount along to do so, it was preferred for FLYING SWORD to take up a position behind the speed with cover. He said FLYING SWORD began very well and he commenced to shift his mount across with a view to clearing runners to his inside. He said when a number of runners were ridden along to maintain their positions which were drawn more favourably than FLYING SWORD, in particular SNOWALOT, HEARTY WISH and SIGHT SPIRIT, he elected to obtain a trailing position behind the speed as he felt that he would have had to ride his mount along to clear those horses which would be contrary to his instructions. He said as he was shifting FLYING SWORD across behind SNOWALOT and HEARTY WISH, the pace of the race eased off which resulted in KING DRAGON being able to maintain its position inside FLYING SWORD which as a result was left racing in a three wide position. He added after initially having cover behind DANDY YEARS, FLYING SWORD was then left racing wide and without cover near the 800 Metres. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HEARTY WISH, C L Chau stated that with the blinkers applied for the first time today, HEARTY WISH travelled too keenly in the early and middle stages. He said HEARTY WISH would not relax for some distance approaching and passing the 1100 Metres and then made the turn after the 900 Metres awkwardly when continuing to over-race. He said HEARTY WISH was awkwardly placed behind DANDY YEARS after the 800 Metres and it was not until passing the 700 Metres that HEARTY WISH commenced to travel more comfortably. He added HEARTY WISH came under heavy pressure in the early part of the Straight and then did not finish off the race which he attributed to the horse travelling too strongly earlier in the race. A veterinary inspection of HEARTY WISH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SNOWALOT and PEAK TO PEAK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SIGHT SPIRIT and CHEERFUL LEADER were sent for sampling.