15/05/2022  Shatin  Race 1

LITTLE PLAYER began only fairly, shifted out and bumped TOWARDS SUCCESS. From wide barriers, SUPER FLAMES and VICTORIA GENERAL were steadied in the early stages. G ONE EXCELLENT was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Despite being vigorously ridden for some distance in the early stages, TAKINGUFURTHER was slow to muster speed and throughout the race travelled wide and without cover. Making the turn at the 900 Metres, LITTLE PLAYER got its head on the side and lay out towards the heels of TOWARDS SUCCESS. LITTLE PLAYER continued to lay out and passing the 800 Metres lost ground when very awkwardly placed close to the heels of TOWARDS SUCCESS. SUPER FLAMES, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence. LITTLE PLAYER then continued to lay out and again lost ground approaching and passing the 600 Metres when shifting out and racing tight inside ONE STEP AHEAD. After the 500 Metres, G ONE EXCELLENT was awkwardly placed behind ALLOY STAR. Passing the 400 Metres, TAKINGUFURTHER was shifted out away from the heels of G ONE EXCELLENT which, after initially being taken out by ALLOY STAR, then shifted out away from that horse. VICTORIA GENERAL, which was racing outside TAKINGUFURTHER, was inconvenienced in consequence. In the early part of the Straight, ONE STEP AHEAD lay out. When questioned, B Shinn (TELECOM MISSILE) stated that in discussions earlier this morning with Mr C Fownes, trainer of TELECOM MISSILE, it was anticipated that wide in the Home Straight would provide a better racing surface than that closer to the rail. He said subsequent to the discussions he walked the track prior to the first race which confirmed to him that the ground closer to the running rail may be inferior. He said therefore it was decided to shift TELECOM MISSILE outside in the early part of the Straight in today’s race. He said rounding the Home Turn TELECOM MISSILE was travelling strongly, however, after being placed under pressure passing the 300 Metres did not finish the race off as strongly as anticipated. He added that TELECOM MISSILE today finished the race off in a similar manner to its last start when the horse did not find the line over the concluding stages after appearing to have the race won. After the race, M Chadwick stated that, in his opinion, the manner in which TOWARDS SUCCESS weakened in the Straight indicated to him that the horse did not handle today’s track conditions. A veterinary inspection of TOWARDS SUCCESS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. On return to the stables, it was reported that VICTORIA GENERAL had bled. A subsequent endoscopic examination of VICTORIA GENERAL confirmed that the horse had bled from both nostrils and also found it to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. A veterinary inspection of TAKINGUFURTHER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TELECOM MISSILE, UNIVERSAL CROWN and VECTOR were sent for sampling.