16/07/2022  Shatin  Race 11

ENCOUNTERED shifted in at the start and bumped FLY ON EARTH. TUCHEL shifted in on jumping, resulting in SECRET VISION being crowded for room and bumping the hindquarters of ODE TO JOY. From wide barriers, BLASTOISE and READY PLAYER ONE were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 900 Metres, CHANCHENG PRINCE was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 200 Metres, ENCOUNTERED was shifted in away from the heels of TUCHEL to continue improving. When questioned, K Teetan stated that he was asked to ensure that LET’S DO IT began well and to take up a forward position and either lead the race or sit outside the lead. He said LET’S DO IT was standing well in the barriers, however, as the start was effected lifted its front feet off the ground and bumped the outside of its gate which resulted in LET’S DO IT beginning awkwardly and losing ground. He said as a result of the manner in which LET’S DO IT began, the horse was then required to race back in the field. He said after the 600 Metres LET’S DO IT was following RUNNING AHEAD and inside POWERFUL WINGS. He said approaching the 500 Metres it appeared as though the rider of RUNNING AHEAD was commencing to shift away from the rail and therefore he positioned LET’S DO IT to be able to improve inside that horse when clear running eventuated. He said when RUNNING AHEAD shifted out marginally, LET’S DO IT improved of its own accord to be racing inside the heels of RUNNING AHEAD. He said when RUNNING AHEAD was not able to shift out near the 500 Metres due to ENCOUNTERED maintaining its position to that horse’s outside, this resulted in LET’S DO IT being checked away from the heels of RUNNING AHEAD and clipping the heels of that horse. He added that at the entrance to the Straight he shifted LET’S DO IT to the outside of RUNNING AHEAD and after balancing his mount up in the early part of the Straight then commenced to ride the horse out. He said LET’S DO IT was finishing the race off satisfactorily before having to be shifted to the inside of SUPER WINNER to continue improving approaching the 100 Metres. When questioned regarding the performance of CHEVALIER PRINCE, J Moreira stated that, in his opinion, the horse’s failure to finish the race off today was directly attributable to having to race no closer to the rail than four wide and without cover. He said although CHEVALIER PRINCE raced wide and without cover successfully at its last start, the circumstances of that race were different to those of today’s race. He said CHEVALIER PRINCE travelled into the Home Turn well, however, came under heavy pressure after the 400 Metres and then gave ground in the Straight which he attributed to the horse’s tough run in the early and middle stages. A veterinary inspection of CHEVALIER PRINCE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the improved performance of ENCOUNTERED, Trainer K L Man stated that at its first two runs this season the horse was not suited to the distances of those races, namely 1200 Metres and 1400 Metres respectively. He said at its most recent start over 1600 Metres, the horse, in his opinion, did not perform well due to the "Yielding to Soft” track conditions. He said since that run ENCOUNTERED had improved in its track work and he was of the opinion that over 1600 Metres today on good ground the horse would improve, albeit that he did not anticipate that ENCOUNTERED would win today’s race. TUCHEL, ENCOUNTERED and POWERFUL WINGS were sent for sampling.