19/06/2022  Shatin  Race 8

At the time of declaration, K H Chan notified a probable overweight of 2 lbs in respect of DIVINE ERA’s weight of 112 lbs having regard to Jockey Chan’s 5 lb allowance. After weighing out 2 lbs overweight as declared, Jockey Chan weighed in at 115 lbs. As Jockey Chan weighed in 3 lbs over the weight notified at the time of declaration having regard to his allowance, he was fined the sum of $7,500. EMBARKED, which bumped a rail on the way to the Start, was examined by the Veterinary Officer at the barriers and passed suitable to race. PRIDE OF EIGHT was slow to begin and then lost ground after shifting in at the start and having to be steadied away from the heels of LOVE ME MORE which began awkwardly and bumped COURAGEOUS KNIGHT. HANDSOME GUYS shifted out at the start and bumped AMAZING VICTORY which on jumping lifted its front feet off the ground and began only fairly. From the outside barriers, WIDE BLUE YONDER and PRIDE OF DRAGON were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 1100 Metres, LOVE ME MORE commenced to travel keenly when racing tight between EMBARKED and COURAGEOUS KNIGHT. After this, LOVE ME MORE continued to travel keenly for some distance. Near the 1100 Metres, TRUST ME was steadied away from the heels of HANDSOME GUYS (H W Lai) which shifted in when not properly clear. H W Lai was reprimanded. Approaching the 900 Metres, TRUST ME was left racing wide and without cover. Near the 650 Metres, NOWITZKI was bumped by ANGELS HUNTER which lay in. At the entrance to the Straight, ROCKPAPERSCISSORS shifted out and bumped LOVE ME MORE. PRIDE OF EIGHT was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight and then raced close to the heels of LOVE ME MORE when being shifted to the outside of that horse passing the 400 Metres. PRIDE OF EIGHT was then hampered passing the 350 Metres by LOVE ME MORE which, after being brushed by ROCKPAPERSCISSORS, shifted out away from that horse. COURAGEOUS KNIGHT, which was racing to the outside of PRIDE OF EIGHT, was inconvenienced in consequence. The performances of NOWITZKI, PRIDE OF DRAGON, COURAGEOUS KNIGHT and HANDSOME GUYS, all of which finished tailed out, were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, NOWITZKI, PRIDE OF DRAGON, COURAGEOUS KNIGHT and HANDSOME GUYS 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 PRIDE OF DRAGON immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. A veterinary inspection of NOWITZKI, COURAGEOUS KNIGHT and HANDSOME GUYS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TUCHEL and ROCKPAPERSCISSORS were sent for sampling.