05/03/2023  Shatin  Race 6

PERFECT TO GREAT was reluctant to proceed onto the track, resulting in its rider, C Y Ho, having to dismount before remounting PERFECT TO GREAT after it proceeded onto the track riderless. TURQUOISE ALPHA jumped only fairly. PERFECT TO GREAT jumped awkwardly and soon after was crowded between DRAGON DELIGHT and BULB PRINCE which jumped awkwardly and shifted out. INDIGENOUS REALM shifted in at the start and bumped OSCAR GLORY. SPARKY STAR jumped awkwardly. CLASSIC ARCHI jumped only fairly and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 1400 Metres, PERFETTO raced tight to the inside of GENERAL WINNER which was inclined to lay in before being corrected by its rider L Currie. Passing the 350 Metres, DRAGON DELIGHT (L Hewitson) shifted out slightly, causing BULB PRINCE to be taken out towards PERFETTO, resulting in PERFETTO, which was inclined to lay in towards the heels of BULB PRINCE, being awkwardly placed close to the heels of BULB PRINCE and then shifting out abruptly, causing PERFECT TO GREAT and GENERAL WINNER to be hampered when taken wider by PERFETTO. The Stewards found that the racing manners of PERFETTO had contributed to the interference suffered by PERFECT TO GREAT and GENERAL WINNER, however, L Hewitson was advised to exercise more care. Near the 200 Metres, SO YOU TRUST became held up behind STAR OF GLORY and then did not obtain clear running until near the 75 Metres. Passing the 150 Metres, C Wong (STAR OF GLORY) momentarily dropped his right rein. GENERAL WINNER raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. When questioned regarding his riding out of TURQUOISE ALPHA over the concluding stages, M Chadwick stated that after running into second placing, TURQUOISE ALPHA was inclined to lay out and for this reason he was required to correct his mount which resulted in his vigour being reduced over the concluding stages. Whilst the Stewards were satisfied that the riding of M Chadwick over the concluding stages did not affect the horse’s finishing position, he was nonetheless reminded of his obligation to ensure that he fully rides his mounts out to the finish of the race. When questioned regarding the performance of PERFETTO, H Bowman stated that he was able to obtain a midfield position where PERFETTO travelled comfortably. He said on straightening he shifted his mount out to improve and near the 350 Metres when he commenced to ride PERFETTO along, it did not respond to his riding and was inclined to lay in which resulted in PERFETTO becoming awkwardly placed on the heels of BULB PRINCE. He added that as a result PERFETTO shifted out abruptly and then after being balanced approaching the 200 Metres he placed PERFETTO again under full pressure, however, PERFETTO responded only fairly to his riding from this point. A veterinary inspection of PERFETTO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, S De Sousa (INDIGENOUS REALM) reported that from a wide barrier he was asked to find cover on INDIGENOUS REALM. He said whilst his mount travelled comfortably throughout the early and middle stages, when asked for an effort in the Straight became one-paced and was disappointing. A veterinary inspection of INDIGENOUS REALM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of EZRA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PERFETTO, DARCI JOY and TURQUOISE ALPHA were sent for sampling.