26/10/2022  Shatin  Race 4

MAXIMUS was withdrawn on 24.10.22 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (colic). Before being allowed to race again, MAXIMUS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. At the time of declaration, K C Leung notified a probable overweight of 2 lbs in respect of APACHE PASS’ allocated weight of 115 lbs. K C Leung then weighed in 3 lbs over the horse’s allocated weight. Having regard to Jockey Leung’s record in respect of weighing in overweight and also that he had been previously placed on notice regarding this matter, he was fined the sum of $15,000. He was further told that should he offend again in a similar manner in the near future, further action may be taken. SAVAQUIN was steadied in the early stages to obtain a position closer to the rail. After the 1300 Metres, SO WE JOY was awkwardly placed close to the heels of APACHE PASS which was being checked away from the heels of ALL FOR ST PAUL’S. When being checked from behind ALL FOR ST PAUL’S, APACHE PASS shifted out and inconvenienced SPIRITED EXPRESS passing the 1200 Metres. Approaching the 300 Metres, KINGS SHIELD momentarily raced tight inside APACHE PASS which shifted in marginally. The performance of MIGHTY GIANT, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, MIGHTY GIANT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of MIGHTY GIANT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, K C Leung stated that he anticipated that KINGS SHIELD and ALL FOR ST PAUL’S would race in forward positions and that the race may not be run at a good tempo in the middle stages. He said he therefore elected to remain racing one horse away from the rail in the early stages and follow ALL FOR ST PAUL’S so as to provide APACHE PASS the opportunity to improve its position than would be the case if APACHE PASS followed KINGS SHIELD on the rail. He said after passing the winning post on the first occasion APACHE PASS commenced to travel keenly and bumped ALL FOR ST PAUL’S. He said after obtaining a trailing position behind ALL FOR ST PAUL’S near the 1400 Metres, APACHE PASS was bumped by SPIRITED EXPRESS near the 1300 Metres which resulted in APACHE PASS commencing to prove very difficult to settle. He said as a result of APACHE PASS’ racing manners and the tempo of the race in the middle stages, APACHE PASS was very awkwardly placed behind ALL FOR ST PAUL’S for a considerable distance approaching and passing the 1200 Metres. He said he attempted to restrain APACHE PASS to remain racing behind ALL FOR ST PAUL’S along the Back Straight, however, APACHE PASS would not relax and given that the race was being run at a slow tempo after the 900 Metres, he elected to shift his mount out and commenced to improve his position forward of ALL FOR ST PAUL’S. He said he was able to do this without having to ride APACHE PASS along and he shifted APACHE PASS in to race outside KINGS SHIELD near the 500 Metres. He added that after obtaining the lead rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, APACHE PASS weakened on its run over the concluding stages which he attributed to the manner in which the horse would not settle in the early and middle stages. KINGS SHIELD and APACHE PASS were sent for sampling.