30/03/2022  Shatin  Race 4

RUN RUN GOOD was withdrawn on 29.3.22 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter AQUILA (V Borges). Before being allowed to race again, RUN RUN GOOD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. REGENCY GEM stood flat-footed as the start was effected and lost a significant amount of ground. Having regard to REGENCY GEM’s previous record in respect of being slow to begin, the Stewards ruled that that horse must undergo a series of consecutive barrier trials before being allowed to race again. CHIKORITA was slow to begin. MASTERWORK lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and began only fairly. WISDOM PATCH stumbled badly at the start and then was bumped by JADE THEATRE which shifted out. WISDOM PATCH then shifted out away from JADE THEATRE, resulting in MASTERWORK being crowded for room inside BEAUTY CHEERS which became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by MASTERWORK. WINNING STRIKES shifted out at the start and brushed AQUILA. AQUILA then got its head on the side, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of TREASURE OF FIELD, resulting in TREASURE OF FIELD becoming unbalanced and AQUILA losing ground. After this, despite being ridden along, AQUILA failed to muster speed and then commenced to hang out approaching the 1000 Metres and was awkwardly placed inside the heels of FORTUNE HAPPINESS. After this, AQUILA continued to hang out badly, particularly making the turns which resulted in AQUILA being eased down rounding the Home Turn. The racing manners of AQUILA were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, AQUILA will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial around a bend. Near the 900 Metres, GOLDEN MISSION shifted out and inconvenienced JADE THEATRE. Passing the 900 Metres, MASTERWORK was eased away from the heels of FORTUNE HAPPINESS which throughout the race travelled wide and without cover. MASTERWORK also travelled wide and without cover throughout. WISDOM PATCH was badly held up for clear running from passing the 300 Metres until near the 150 Metres. Near the 100 Metres, TREASURE OF FIELD was momentarily eased away from the heels of STAR OF RED which shifted out away from the heels of WINNING STRIKES. After the 100 Metres, K Teetan (REGENCY GEM) dropped his right rein. Over the concluding stages, STAR OF RED raced tight outside WINNING STRIKES (M L Yeung). When WINNING STRIKES and STAR OF RED raced tight, the whip of M L Yeung became caught behind the head of STAR OF RED. Close to the finishing line, BEAUTY CHEERS was struck over the nose by the whip of K C Leung (JADE THEATRE). A veterinary inspection of FORTUNE HAPPINESS and AQUILA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. MASTERWORK and WISDOM PATCH were sent for sampling.