19/02/2023  Shatin  Race 2

On leaving the Parade Ring, WINNING STEPS brushed a rail. WINNING STEPS was examined by the Veterinary Officer on arrival at the Start and passed suitable to race. WINNING STEPS, which was standing awkwardly in the barriers, was slow to begin. MANAGEMENT FOLKS and SUPER HONG KONG bumped at the start. GO GO SIXTEEN shifted out on jumping and bumped KOWLOON GREAT. GO GO SIXTEEN then raced wide and without cover from the 900 Metres. FOREVER FOLKS jumped only fairly and from a wide barrier was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From the outside barrier, ROBOT WARRIOR was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. YEE CHEONG WARRIOR was caught wide and without cover in the early stages and near the 1400 Metres was allowed to stride forward where it assumed a position outside the lead near the 900 Metres. Near the 1100 Metres, HELENE ALLIBOR (C Y Ho) became awkward in its action and as a result also became unbalanced. C Y Ho reported that at this point he felt that the horse changed stride and this was the reason for it becoming unbalanced. After interviewing Trainer D A Hayes and Veterinary Officer Dr J X Mizzi and having regard this was the third occasion upon which HELENE ALLIBOR had performed in a similar manner, the Stewards ruled that it must barrier trial satisfactorily on grass over 1600 Metres at Sha Tin and be subjected to an official veterinary examination which must include additional diagnostic assessments before being permitted to race again. Approaching the 700 Metres, LUCKY DIAMOND shifted out to improve, resulting in TYCOON JEWELLERY being taken out and GO GO SIXTEEN being awkwardly placed on the heels of TYCOON JEWELLERY and taken wider. Approaching the 600 Metres, MANAGEMENT FOLKS endeavoured to improve into tight running to the inside of GO GO SIXTEEN and was steadied when crowded between BOOM ALLIANCE which shifted out slightly and GO GO SIXTEEN which shifted back in to obtain a position behind TYCOON JEWELLERY. Near the 250 Metres, TYCOON JEWELLERY was steadied when crowed for room between BOOM ALLIANCE and LUCKY DIAMOND (L Currie) which shifted out slightly. A short distance later, TYCOON JEWELLERY was checked when crowded between LUCKY DIAMOND and BOOM ALLIANCE which, after being crowded by STARSHIP EIGHTY when that runner improved to the inside of SUPER HONG KONG (M Chadwick), was then taken in by STARSHIP EIGHTY when STARSHIP EIGHTY was taken in by SUPER HONG KONG. As the Stewards determined that the minor shifts from both SUPER HONG KONG and LUCKY DIAMOND were the principal reason for the interference, both M Chadwick and L Currie were advised that in similar circumstances they should exercise more care to prevent their mounts from shifting ground when not clear. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on KOWLOON GREAT at the request of Trainer C S Shum. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, KOWLOON GREAT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of HELENE ALLIBOR immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. A veterinary inspection of WINNING STEPS and STAR OF GLORY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SUPER HONG KONG and MANAGEMENT FOLKS were sent for sampling.