24/12/2022  Shatin  Race 4

SOARING TOWER jumped awkwardly with its head up and consequently lost ground. OUTPACER jumped awkwardly, making contact with the outside of its barriers and consequently losing ground. RED TITAN jumped awkwardly, shifted out and bumped REGENT GLORY. SMILING COLLECTOR and IRON WILL were tightened for room soon after the start between OUTPACER which shifted out and LEATHER VANGUARD which shifted in after being bumped by COMPASSION SPIRIT which was also shifting in slightly. SMILING COLLECTOR then commenced to over-race quite badly for some distance in the early stages, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of IRON WILL which then inconvenienced RED BRICK FIGHTER by forcing that horse wider on the track. IRON WILL also over-raced in the early and middle stages. After passing the 900 Metres, LEATHER VANGUARD was steadied for some distance when racing tight between OUTPACER and IRON WILL and as a result lost ground, causing SMILING COLLECTOR, which was following, having to be checked and shifted out to race wider on the track. SOLAR PARTNER lay out under pressure in the Straight and raced tight inside FIRE BALL for a short distance passing the 150 Metres. The performance of OUTPACER, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, OUTPACER 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 OUTPACER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, Z Purton (RED TITAN) explained that his instructions, from a wide barrier, were to go forward if the horse began well. He said he felt that the amount of work RED TITAN was required to do in the early and middle stages to obtain a position outside the lead approaching the 800 Metres was in his view the reason the horse failed to finish the race off. A veterinary inspection of RED TITAN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of LEATHER VANGUARD immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils and to be lame in its left front leg. Before being allowed to race again, LEATHER VANGUARD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. RED TITAN, COMPASSION SPIRIT and RUN RUN BUDDY were sent for sampling.