12/03/2022  Shatin  Race 1

KA YING STAR shifted out at the start and bumped EXCELLENT PROPOSAL. CHEERFUL DAYS was steadied on jumping to obtain cover. When questioned regarding his riding of EXCELLENT PROPOSAL after the 600 Metres, J Moreira stated that the tempo of the race increased at about the 550 Metres. He said at this time he was travelling directly to the inside of CHAMPION’S WAY which was following KA YING STAR which at the time was racing outside the leader HEALTHY HAPPY. He said to have shifted to the outside of KA YING STAR he would have had to make considerable contact with CHAMPION’S WAY which would not have been in the best interests of EXCELLENT PROPOSAL and which may have placed him in breach of the Rules of Racing. He said he anticipated that CHAMPION’S WAY would remain racing behind KA YING STAR before shifting to the outside of that horse at the entrance to the Straight and therefore he did not anticipate that a run would become available between CHAMPION’S WAY and KA YING STAR. He said he therefore elected to improve to the inside of KAY YING STAR to follow HEALTHY HAPPY into the Home Straight. He added that he had hoped that KA YING STAR, which was carrying top weight in today’s race, would come under pressure which would allow EXCELLENT PROPOSAL the opportunity to improve between that horse and HEALTHY HAPPY. He said in the Straight KA YING STAR stayed on and therefore a run never eventuated between HEALTHY HAPPY and KA YING STAR and because of this EXCELLENT PROPOSAL did not obtain clear running at any stage of the Straight and was not able to be tested. CHAMPION’S WAY and CHEERFUL DAYS were sent for sampling.