23/01/2022  Shatin  Race 5

THE CROWN shifted out at the start and bumped PEGASUS GENERAL. PEGASUS GENERAL was then bumped shortly after the start by REGENCY BO BO which shifted in away from TURQUOISE HOPE. TEAM SPIRIT shifted out at the start and bumped EXCELLENT DADDY. From a wide barrier, READY TO WIN was steadied in the early stages. EXCELLENT DADDY travelled keenly in the lead in the middle stages. BIRDSVILLE made the Home Turn awkwardly, shifted out and bumped HERE COMES TED. BIRDSVILLE then shifted in and was momentarily awkwardly placed outside the heels of REGENCY BO BO at the entrance to the Straight. REGENCY BO BO lost its left hind plate at the entrance to the Straight. After the 100 Metres, THE CROWN was unable to obtain clear running when held up behind TEAM SPIRIT. This resulted in THE CROWN being checked away from the heels of TEAM SPIRIT close to the finishing line as that horse raced tight inside PEGASUS GENERAL. Near the 75 Metres, BIRDSVILLE raced tight inside HERE COMES TED (M Chadwick) which shifted in under pressure. BIRDSVILLE was then momentarily eased away from the heels of HERE COMES TED after the 50 Metres as that horse, which was continuing to lay in, was taken in by READY TO WIN (K C Leung) which shifted in when being ridden out. REGENCY BO BO, which was racing to the inside of BIRDSVILLE, was crowded for room inside that horse, and PEGASUS GENERAL, which was racing inside REGENCY BO BO, also raced in restricted room between that horse and TEAM SPIRIT. Because of this, REGENCY BO BO, PEGASUS GENERAL and TEAM SPIRIT were not able to be fully tested over the concluding stages. Both M Chadwick and K C Leung were reprimanded and told that in future they would be expected to make every endeavour in a timely manner to prevent their mounts from shifting ground. For the majority of the race, READY TO WIN travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the performance of JUMBO FORTUNE, J Moreira stated that as the start was effected, JUMBO FORTUNE, which was having its first race start in Hong Kong today, lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently was slow to begin. He said this resulted in the horse having to race back in the field. He said JUMBO FORTUNE travelled comfortably in the early stages and approaching and passing the 700 Metres he was able to improve his position to be racing inside THE CROWN. He said he placed JUMBO FORTUNE under pressure prior to and rounding the Home Turn and after getting too far out of its ground in the early stages due to the manner in which the horse began, he was of the opinion that JUMBO FORTUNE finished the race off satisfactorily over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of JUMBO FORTUNE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of TEAM SPIRIT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. JUMBO FORTUNE, READY TO WIN and HERE COMES TED were sent for sampling.