15/04/2023  Shatin  Race 10

INVINCIBLE MISSILE and PEGASUS HERO were slow to begin. THE BEST PEACH jumped only fairly. HAPPY TOGETHER jumped awkwardly and then from the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From a wide barrier, POWERFUL WINGS was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Due to the slow pace, NEVER TOO SOON, CELTIC TIMES, UNIVERSAL HORIZON and RUNNING AHEAD all raced keenly in the middle stages. Near the 600 Metres, POWERFUL WINGS bumped with UNIVERSAL HORIZON when improving to that runner’s outside, resulting in UNIVERSAL HORIZON then being awkwardly placed close to MASSIVE ACTION. In this incident, CELTIC TIMES, which was following, was steadied away from the heels of UNIVERSAL HORIZON, shifted out and made contact with SINBA, taking SINBA wider and also resulting in HAPPY TOGETHER being forced wider. Near the 500 Metres, CELTIC TIMES was then crowded for room between UNIVERSAL HORIZON and SINBA which shifted back in after being taken out by CELTIC TIMES. PEGASUS HERO, which was following CELTIC TIMES and was held up on the Home Turn, was then checked to avoid CELTIC TIMES. Approaching the 500 Metres, INVINCIBLE MISSILE was eased when momentarily crowded by RUNNING AHEAD which shifted in. INVINCIBLE MISSILE was then shifted to the outside initially of RUNNING AHEAD and then wider on the track in the early part of the Straight to secure clear running and for some distance near the 300 Metres was held up between PEGASUS HERO and THE BEST PEACH. From the 400 Metres until near the 300 Metres, NEVER TOO SOON was held up for clear running behind MASSIVE ACTION. After the race, H Bowman (SINBA) reported that his mount was not suited by the increase in tempo from the 600 Metres and after being bumped on several occasions making the Home Turn was unable to finish the race off. A veterinary inspection of SINBA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of PEGASUS HERO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SINBA, POWERFUL WINGS and HAPPY TOGETHER were sent for sampling.