18/06/2023  Shatin  Race 5

PRINCE ALEX jumped awkwardly. ASIAN ONE was slow to begin and was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. DIAMOND WINNER was hampered at the start when crowded between STRONGEST BOY and SUPER OASIS, both of which shifted ground. DIAMOND WINNER was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From an outside barrier, BULB PRINCE was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. After travelling a short distance, LOOKING COOL lay out, resulting in FOREST GOLD making contact with LUCKY ETERNITY. As a result, LUCKY ETERNITY shifted out, resulting in FASTPASS being steadied when crowded between LUCKY ETERNITY and MASTER OF FORTUNE which was positioned tight to the inside of FLYING MOJITO. In the early stages, MASTER OF FORTUNE raced keenly when being steadied to obtain cover. STRONGEST BOY raced wide and without cover from the 800 Metres. Making the Home Turn, ASIAN ONE bumped with LUCKY ETERNITY when racing tight between LUCKY ETERNITY and PRINCE ALEX which shifted to the outside of LOOKING COOL. When improving into a narrow run to the inside of FLYING MOJITO near the 200 Metres, LOOKING COOL bumped FLYING MOJITO. PROSECCO lay out under pressure in the Straight. When questioned regarding his riding of LUCKY ETERNITY, C L Chau stated that after following PROSECCO, he contemplated shifting out and following STRONGEST BOY making the Home Turn. He said as STRONGEST BOY had raced wide and without cover, he elected not to shift out and remained racing behind PROSECCO. He added that near the 300 Metres he endeavoured to obtain clear running to the inside of PROSECCO, however, when that runner shifted in, he was disappointed for this run and then became held up for a short distance thereafter. He further stated that near the 250 Metres he then endeavoured to shift to the outside of PROSECCO, however, LUCKY ETERNITY lay in and was reluctant to proceed into a narrow run between PROSECCO and MASTER OF FORTUNE and then over the concluding stages he could not fully test his mount when positioned directly behind PROSECCO. The Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Chau were reasonable. L Ferraris (FOREST GOLD) reported that his mount was making an abnormal respiratory noise after the race. A veterinary inspection of FOREST GOLD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of FOREST GOLD was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FOREST GOLD 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 STRONGEST BOY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. LOOKING COOL and FLYING MOJITO were sent for sampling.