05/03/2023  Shatin  Race 3

Prior to entering the track, L Hewitson was dislodged from NERVOUS WITNESS without incident. NERVOUS WITNESS was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. BLAZE WARRIOR was slow to begin. COURIER WONDER jumped only fairly and shortly after the start got its head up. LUCKY WITH YOU raced keenly in the early stages. Prior to the declaration of weighed-in, H Bowman, the rider of COURIER WONDER, 2nd placegetter, viewed the patrol films to ascertain if there was grounds for a protest/objection against DUKE WAI being declared the winner due to COURIER WONDER racing tight to the inside of DUKE WAI over the final 150 Metres. When H Bowman declined to lodge a protest/objection and the Stewards were satisfied that there was not sufficient grounds due to NERVOUS WITNESS shifting out, weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. When questioned regarding his riding of COURIER WONDER in the Straight, H Bowman stated that shortly after straightening he initially was looking to obtain clear running between DUKE WAI and REWARDING TOGETHER. He said as a result he shifted COURIER WONDER out to take advantage of this run, however, when REWARDING TOGETHER shifted in slightly and, in his opinion, was still travelling reasonably well, he felt there was insufficient room for COURIER WONDER to improve into this position and therefore elected to shift back to the inside. He said after shifting to the inside of CAMPIONE near the 300 Metres and behind NERVOUS WITNESS, he then commenced to improve to the outside of NERVOUS WITNESS near the 200 Metres, however, COURIER WONDER was inclined to lay in and reluctant to shift to the outside of NERVOUS WITNESS. He added that whilst he was endeavouring to shift to the outside of NERVOUS WITNESS, NERVOUS WITNESS shifted out which resulted in the run between DUKE WAI and NERVOUS WITNESS becoming tight and then COURIER WONDER having to race in restricted room between those runners over the final 150 Metres. The Stewards found that the tactics adopted by Jockey Bowman were reasonable in the circumstances. After the race, BLAZE WARRIOR was found to have bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection of CAMPIONE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DUKE WAI and COURIER WONDER were sent for sampling.