26/02/2023  Shatin  Race 10

GOLDEN EMPIRE was withdrawn on 25.2.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter ERIMO (K Teetan). Before being allowed to race again, GOLDEN EMPIRE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CIRCUIT NINE stood flat-footed as the start was effected and lost ground. HYPER DRAGON BALL shifted out abruptly on jumping, resulting in its rider, L Hewitson, becoming unbalanced and HYPER DRAGON BALL losing ground. TAMRA BLITZ jumped awkwardly and soon after was then bumped by BEAUTY MISSILE (Z Purton) which after shifting in and bumping with ERIMO then shifted out. After the race, Z Purton stated that when his mount jumped awkwardly, this necessitated him having to adjust his right stirrup iron shortly after the start. ERIMO and NOT USUAL STAR bumped at the start. When caught wide in the early stages, CRYSTAL POWERFUL was steadied in an attempt to obtain cover approaching the 1200 Metres and in doing so commenced to race keenly for some distance thereafter, however, was left racing wide and without cover from the 800 Metres when BEAUTY MISSILE shifted in to a positon three deep. In the early part of the Straight, ERIMO experienced some difficulty obtaining clear running. After the 400 Metres, HYPER DRAGON BALL was shifted to the outside of CRYSTAL POWERFUL to secure clear running and when being shifted out was awkwardly placed close to CRYSTAL POWERFUL. Near the 250 Metres, STUNNING IMPACT was disappointed for running between NOT USUAL STAR and TAMRA BLITZ when TAMRA BLITZ shifted out. After obtaining clear running near the 200 Metres, STUNNING IMPACT then became held up over the final 100 Metres when positioned behind NABOO LEGEND, resulting in STUNNING IMPACT not being able to be fully tested to the finish of the race. Near the 150 Metres, TAMRA BLITZ became held up for clear running behind NABOO LEGEND and was shifted to that runner’s outside to secure clear running. Near the 150 Metres, NOT USUAL STAR was steadied when crowded between PARTERRE and BEAUTY MISSILE (Z Purton) which shifted in. Z Purton was reprimanded and advised to make a greater effort than he did on this occasion to prevent his mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances. A short distance later, PARTERRE and BEAUTY MISSILE bumped when BEAUTY MISSILE continued to shift in. Over the concluding stages, NOT USUAL STAR could not be ridden out to the finish of the race when held up behind BEAUTY MISSILE. NOT USUAL STAR raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. BEAUTY MISSILE, TAMRA BLITZ and SEASONS BLISS were sent for sampling.