24/01/2023  Shatin  Race 3

CHOICERUS began awkwardly. BRILLIANT PIONEER and SPICY GRILL were crowded for room on jumping between THUNDERBOLTAURUS and ARIEL, both of which shifted ground. After this, BRILLIANT PIONEER and SPICY GRILL were shifted across behind runners from wide barriers. BLAZING SUN was steadied shortly after the start to obtain a position closer to the rail. After the 1150 Metres, WIN WIN was crowded for room inside BLAZING SUN which got its head on the side and shifted in abruptly despite the efforts of its rider. BRILLIANT PIONEER, which was following, was inconvenienced in consequence. Approaching the 1100 Metres, FUNCTION PATCH raced in restricted room inside LADY’S CHOICE which shifted in after momentarily racing tight inside TURIN WARRIOR. After the 1100 Metres, DIVINE ERA was left racing wide and without cover. CHOICERUS made the turn at the 900 Metres awkwardly, shifted out and inconvenienced NUNCHUKS. After this, NUNCHUKS travelled wide and without cover. Rounding the Home Turn, YOUNG SPARKLE became unbalanced when crowded for room between DIVINE ERA and SINGAPORE SPIRIT (L Ferraris) which, when commencing to improve to the outside of ARIEL, bumped YOUNG SPARKLE. L Ferraris was severely reprimanded and told to exercise more care when shifting ground to obtain clear running than he did on this occasion. NUNCHUKS became unbalanced after racing tight outside TURIN WARRIOR at the entrance to the Straight. BLAZING SUN had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight and after the 400 Metres shifted in abruptly away from the heels of LADY’S CHOICE. Passing the 150 Metres, LADY’S CHOICE got its head on the side and shifted out despite the efforts of its rider, resulting in SINGAPORE SPIRIT being hampered and taken out which in turn inconvenienced YOUNG SPARKLE and WIN WIN. After this, LADY’S CHOICE continued to lay out under pressure. When questioned regarding his riding of THUNDERBOLTAURUS approaching and passing the 600 Metres, H Bowman stated that THUNDERBOLTAURUS, which was having only its second race start today, travelled very keenly in the early and middle stages and was awkwardly placed behind CHOICERUS for some distance approaching and passing the 1000 Metres. He said passing the 600 Metres he commenced to shift to the outside of CHOICERUS which was racing greenly and he intended to improve to the outside of that horse to follow NUNCHUKS. He said as he was shifting to the outside of CHOICERUS, SPICY GRILL improved its position quickly around THUNDERBOLTAURUS which resulted in the two horses bumping. He added whilst it was available for him to continue to shift to the outside of CHOICERUS, he was concerned that, given the manner in which the horse had over-raced earlier in the race, he would have had to ride his mount along to do so and that if he did this, it would be detrimental to THUNDERBOLTAURUS’ chances of finishing the race off strongly over the latter stages. He said rather than riding THUNDERBOLTAURUS along to obtain the position between CHOICERUS and SPICY GRILL, he elected to shift back in behind CHOICERUS and shifted out away from behind that horse into clear running at the entrance to the Straight. After the race, L Ferraris stated that after travelling well behind the lead in the early and middle stages, SINGAPORE SPIRIT failed to quicken after obtaining clear running on straightening. He said despite being ridden out SINGAPORE SPIRIT was then disappointing in its failure to finish the race off over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of SPICY GRILL, FUNCTION PATCH and SINGAPORE SPIRIT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SINGAPORE SPIRIT, DIVINE ERA and THUNDERBOLTAURUS were sent for sampling.