08/01/2023  Shatin  Race 5

SUPER EAGLE and TO INFINITY bumped on jumping. EASY SNIP was crowded for room at the start between BULB PRINCE and GOLDEN BULL which shifted out. After this, EASY SNIP and BULB PRINCE were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. From the outside barrier, YOUNG SPARKLE was shifted across behind runners shortly after the start. From a wide barrier, HA LEE CHARM got its head up when being steadied to obtain cover in the early stages. Also from a wide barrier, INDIGENOUS REALM was steadied in the early stages to obtain a position closer to the rail, however, after the 900 Metres was left racing wide and without cover. After travelling a short distance, TO INFINITY and CHING bumped. Passing the 1100 Metres, BEAUTY MOMENTS was steadied away from the heels of GOLDEN BULL (L Hewitson) which shifted in when not properly clear. L Hewitson was reprimanded and told to exercise more care when shifting ground in similar circumstances. Near the 950 Metres, BLISSFUL STAR was awkwardly placed outside the heels of BEAUTY MOMENTS. At the 550 Metres, BLISSFUL STAR shifted out and bumped INDIGENOUS REALM. Passing the 500 Metres, PERFETTO became unbalanced when racing tight between GOLDEN BULL and TO INFINITY which shifted out. In this incident, PERFETTO bumped the hindquarters of GOLDEN BULL which became unbalanced. Then passing the 400 Metres, GOLDEN BULL raced tight outside PERFETTO which improved into tight running between that horse and CHING. PERFETTO then momentarily raced in restricted room approaching the 300 Metres between GOLDEN BULL and CHING which shifted out. HA LEE CHARM was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight. TAMRA BLITZ had some difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 350 Metres. Passing the 50 Metres, BLISSFUL STAR was shifted in away from the heels of GOLDEN BULL when held up for clear running behind that horse. Because of this, BLISSFUL STAR was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. CHING lay out under pressure over the latter stages and lost its left front plate after the race. Close to the finishing line, INDIGENOUS REALM raced tight outside the heels of GOLDEN BULL. When questioned, K Teetan stated that after CHING began well he rode his mount along in the initial stages to clear TO INFINITY as he did not want to restrain his mount to take a trailing position behind that horse. He said after the 1100 Metres he was able to improve sufficiently forward of TO INFINITY and after the 1000 Metres was able to cross to race one horse off the rail and obtain cover behind SPLENDID LIVING near the 900 Metres. He said as CHING has been unlucky in its recent races as a result of being unable to obtain clear running, he elected to shift to the outside of SPLENDID LOVING into a three wide position passing the 700 Metres so as to ensure that CHING did not get caught behind SPLENDID LIVING which has been ridden along for some distance in the early stages to obtain a forward position. He said he was also concerned that GOLDEN BULL, which was following CHING, would improve quickly around his mount after the 700 Metres. He added whilst he shifted CHING to the outside of SPLENDID LIVING, he did not ride his mount along, rather remained racing to the outside of SPLENDID LIVING before placing CHING under pressure at the entrance to the Straight. After the race, K C Leung sated that he had to make a lot of use of SPLENDID LIVING in the early stages to cross CHING and it was not until near the 900 Metres that he was able to shift across to race outside the lead. He said because of the amount of work he had to do on SPLENDID LIVING in the early stages, the horse was then not able to finish the race off. A veterinary inspection of SPLENDID LIVING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CHING, TAMRA BLITZ and PERFETTO were sent for sampling.