23/10/2022  Shatin  Race 3

MASTER OF LUCK began only fairly. MARADO shifted in at the start and bumped RED BRICK FIGHTER. Then passing the 1300 Metres, MARADO commenced to travel keenly and lay in away from DREAM CATCHER, resulting in MARADO being awkwardly placed outside RED BRICK FIGHTER. SPLENDID LIVING shifted out on jumping and brushed the hindquarters of ROYAL AGILITY. From the outside barrier, CASA LEGEND was steadied on jumping and shifted across behind runners. WIN WIN was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. For some distance approaching and passing the 1200 Metres, DREAM CATCHER proved very difficult to settle when racing with the blinkers for the first time and after the 1200 Metres shifted out away from the heels of ROYAL AGILITY, resulting in SPLENDID LIVING being bumped and taken wider. After this, DREAM CATCHER continued to prove very difficult to settle and passing the 1000 Metres was shifted out from behind runners and allowed to improve its position. Passing the 1100 Metres, RED BRICK FIGHTER shifted in and brushed the running rail. After the 1000 Metres, HAPPY FOREVER commenced to travel very keenly and was awkwardly placed behind RED BRICK FIGHTER. After this, HAPPY FOREVER continued to prove difficult to settle and approaching and passing the 900 Metres got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of ONE VOICE. After the 900 Metres, SUPER RED DRAGON was left racing wide and without cover. Near the 850 Metres, MASTER OF LUCK raced tight inside SPLENDID LIVING which got its head on the side and lay in when awkwardly placed behind ROYAL AGILITY. After the 500 Metres, HAPPY FOREVER was awkwardly placed behind ONE VOICE. MASTER OF LUCK was held up for clear running after the 400 Metres and then approaching the 300 Metres was crowded for room between SPLENDID LIVING and HAPPY FOREVER which was hampered when taken out by WIN WIN which was bumped and taken out by CASA LEGEND which, when improving its position, was checked out away from the heels of DREAM CATCHER which was giving ground quickly. As the Stewards formed the opinion that this incident resulted from DREAM CATCHER giving ground abruptly, no further action was taken. After this, DREAM CATCHER continued to give ground and finished tailed out. A veterinary inspection of DREAM CATCHER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of DREAM CATCHER was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, DREAM CATCHER will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the 200 Metres, RED BRICK FIGHTER was awkwardly placed close to the heels of PERFECT PEACH when unable to improve into tight running inside that horse. RED BRICK FIGHTER then continued to be awkwardly placed behind PERFECT PEACH and after the 50 Metres shifted in and brushed the running rail. Because of this, RED BRICK FIGHTER was not able to be properly tested over the latter stages. Also after the 200 Metres, ROYAL AGILITY raced tight inside the heels of SPLENDID LIVING which shifted in. Passing the 100 Metres, MASTER OF LUCK was held up for clear running behind SPLENDID LIVING and MAXIMIZE HEART. Close to the finishing line, CASA LEGEND was held up for clear running behind ONE VOICE. Because of this, CASA LEGEND was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he was instructed to ride SPLENDID LIVING in a forward position with cover behind the leaders. He said he was also asked not to ride SPLENDID LIVING along in order to obtain a forward position as the horse had proved difficult to settle in the past when ridden along in the early stages. He said shortly after the start DREAM CATCHER, which was drawn immediately to the inside of SPLENDID LIVING, was being ridden along and as he felt that he would have had to ride SPLENDID LIVING along to clear that horse, he elected to allow DREAM CATCHER to improve to the inside of SPLENDID LIVING as he believed that that horse was being ridden along to take up a forward position which would have allowed SPLENDID LIVING to obtain a trailing position behind that horse. He said when DREAM CATCHER did not initially continue forward, he steadied his mount when racing wide to obtain cover behind that horse as he believed that he would have had to make too much use of SPLENDID LIVING in an endeavour to obtain a forward position as instructed. He added that due to the circumstances of the race in the early stages, this resulted in SPLENDID LIVING racing much further back in the field than had been intended. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on ROYAL AGILITY at the request of Trainer Y S Tsui. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, ROYAL AGILITY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ONE VOICE and PERFECT PEACH were sent for sampling.