12/02/2022  Shatin  Race 6

WONDER YEARS began only fairly and shifted out towards the heels of STEEL WIN which on jumping shifted out and inconvenienced SUNNY DELIGHT. SPLENDID LIVING lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and consequently began only fairly. After this, from a wide barrier, SPLENDID LIVING was shifted across behind runners. TRAVEL GLORY began awkwardly, shifted in and inconvenienced RUN RUN GOOD. After this, from a wide barrier, RUN RUN GOOD was also steadied to obtain cover. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, SUNNY DELIGHT was awkwardly placed outside the heels of EL VALIENTE when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse. Approaching the 1300 Metres, SUNNY DELIGHT commenced to travel keenly and shifted out away from the heels of BOOM STITCH. SUNNY DELIGHT then travelled wide and without cover until approaching the 1000 Metres at which time SICOMORO was left racing wide and without cover. After the 1100 Metres. STEEL WIN shifted out away from the heels of BLOTTING PAPER which was awkwardly placed behind SKYEY SUPREME. STEEL WIN then attempted to improve into tight running between BLOTTING PAPER and ALL JOYFUL, resulting in STEEL WIN racing tight between those horses and ALL JOYFUL becoming unbalanced. STEEL WIN was then shifted back in behind BLOTTING PAPER after the 1000 Metres. Near the 600 Metres, SPLENDID LIVING was steadied away from the heels of WONDER YEARS. Over about the final 100 Metres, RUN RUN GOOD and SPLENDID LIVING bumped on a number of horses as SPLENDID LIVING improved into tight running between RUN RUN GOOD and BOOM STITCH which was giving ground. This resulted in both RUN RUN GOOD and SPLENDID LIVING becoming unbalanced. When questioned, M Chadwick was not able to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of ALL JOYFUL. He said from an inside barrier the horse was able to take up a position in advance of midfield without having to be ridden along. He said ALL JOYFUL initially travelled well but then near the 1100 Metres became unbalanced when racing tight outside STEEL WIN. He said at this time he had to allow ALL JOYFUL to take up a more forward position to prevent being taken wider by STEEL WIN and after this ALL JOYFUL did not travel as strongly. He said he commenced to ride his mount along rounding the Home Turn and ALL JOYFUL got its head on the side and shifted out away from STEEL WIN. He said after this ALL JOYFUL was very disappointing in the manner in which it gave ground over the concluding stages to finish towards the rear of the field. He added that in retrospect perhaps ALL JOYFUL would be better suited by being ridden slightly more quietly than it was today, however, he was not able to offer this as the reason for the horse’s failure to finish the race off. The performance of ALL JOYFUL, favourite for today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ALL JOYFUL 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 ALL JOYFUL immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. A veterinary inspection of BOOM STITCH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. EL VALIENTE, SKYEY SUPREME and BLOTTING PAPER were sent for sampling.