15/04/2023  Shatin  Race 2

After being placed in the barriers, CALL ME MIGHTY reared, struck its head and became cast. Acting on veterinary advice that CALL ME MIGHTY was not suitable to race, the horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, CALL ME MIGHTY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. LUCKY PLANET was slow to begin. SUNLIGHT POWER jumped only fairly and then was crowded between CALIFORNIA CONCORD and SUPER HIGHWAY which shifted out. CALIFORNIA CONCORD was left racing wide and without cover after the 800 Metres. Between the 450 Metres and the 300 Metres, SUNLIGHT POWER was inclined to lay in when being directed to the outside to secure clear running. Then when placed under pressure over the final 100 Metres, SUNLIGHT POWER continued to lay in, resulting in its rider, K Teetan, having to stop riding and straighten near the 75 Metres. After the race, M Chadwick (SUPER HIGHWAY) reported that his intention was to hold a handy position with cover. He added that when the pace of the event was not as quick as what he had anticipated, SUPER HIGHWAY raced in a more forward position than what he had expected. When questioned regarding his riding of TRUST ME, A Badel stated that his instructions were to endeavour to obtain cover, preferably in behind the lead. He said TRUST ME jumped awkwardly and when positioned to the outside of CHAMPION INSTINCT, he was of the opinion that CHAMPION INSTINCT would allow MARVEL DRAGON to cross and race in the lead outside MARVEL DRAGON. He added therefore he elected to follow CHAMPION INSTINCT as this would have provided him with cover behind the leaders. He added when CHAMPION INSTINCT did not continue forward when it allowed SUPER HIGHWAY to cross, this resulted in TRUST ME settling further back in the field than what had been anticipated. He said in the middle stages TRUST ME raced keenly, particularly near the 600 Metres when CHAMPION INSTINCT made slight contact with CALIFORNIA CONCORD. He further stated that when under pressure in the Straight, due to the moderate early pace of the event, TRUST ME found it difficult to make up ground. When questioned as to whether there was an opportunity to go forward and cross CHAMPION INSTINCT in the early stages, A Badel stated that as TRUST ME jumped awkwardly, he was reluctant to make use of his mount to take up a more forward position, however, conceded that in hindsight, given the moderate early pace, his best option would have been to go forward and cross CHAMPION INSTINCT. Trainer C H Yip confirmed the instructions were to obtain cover and agreed that Jockey Badel would have been better served by allowing his mount to go forward and cross CHAMPION INSTINCT. After considering all the evidence, the Stewards advised A Babel that whilst the option in taking a sit behind CHAMPION INSTINCT was not an unreasonable one, in the circumstances he would have been better served by taking up a more forward position in advance of CHAMPION INSTINCT. A veterinary inspection of TRUST ME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, H Bowman (CHAMPION INSTINCT) reported that his mount travelled satisfactorily in the early and middle stages and near the 600 Metres he was reluctant to shift out and follow CALIFORNIA CONCORD as he felt it was too early in the race to do so. He added that when placed under pressure in the Home Straight, CHAMPION INSTINCT responded fairly to his riding. He said CHAMPION INSTINCT is still somewhat immature and he was not disappointed with the performance of his mount. A veterinary inspection of CHAMPION INSTINCT immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a wound to its right hind leg. A veterinary inspection of CALIFORNIA CONCORD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TRUST ME, GOLDEN SAMURAI and MARVEL DRAGON were sent for sampling.