16/07/2023  Shatin  Race 3

KA YING WARRIOR was withdrawn on 15.7.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (blood abnormality) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter HONG KONG HALL (Z Purton). Before being allowed to race again, KA YING WARRIOR will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On arrival at the start, it was noted that BEATO had blood in its mouth. BEATO was examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. NICETOBEMET jumped only fairly. BEATO was slow to begin. HONG KONG HALL jumped awkwardly. Soon after the start, BABY CRYSTAL was hampered when crowded between COBHFIELD and AWESOME TREASURE which shifted out. From wide barriers, KILLER INSTINCT and SUPER FAST DRAGON were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1100 Metres, COBHFIELD was steadied when momentarily crowded by FUN N GLORY (M Chadwick) which shifted in and away from MR MAJESTIC. M Chadwick was advised that he would be expected to make a greater effort than he did on this occasion to straighten his mounts. A short distance later, FUN N GLORY was steadied when crowded by MR MAJESTIC (B Avdulla) which shifted in after racing tight to the inside of HONG KONG HALL. B Avdulla was advised to ensure that he is sufficiently clear when shifting ground. Passing the 1000 Metres, CURLING SPEED improved to the inside of COBHFIELD and was then steadied when COBHFIELD shifted in slightly. COBHFIELD then raced keenly in the middle stages and for some distance after the 800 Metres got its head up when being steadied away from TALENTS SUPREMO. NICETOBEMET was held up for clear running behind AWESOME TREASURE between the 400 Metres and the 350 Metres. Again near the 250 Metres, NICETOBEMET was then disappointed for clear running between MR MAJESTIC and AWESOME TREASURE when both runners shifted ground. Approaching the 350 Metres, SUPER FAST DRAGON was steadied when disappointed for clear running between COBHFIELD and BEATO which shifted out. SUPER FAST DRAGON was then shifted to the inside of BEATO at the 300 Metres to obtain clear running. TALENTS SUPREMO was held up for clear running between the 300 Metres and the 200 Metres. Near the 200 Metres, BEATO was briefly held up behind BABY CRYSTAL. Over the concluding stages, BEATO then had difficulty obtaining clear running behind FUN N GLORY and as a result was shifted to the inside of FUN N GLORY approaching the finish, resulting in TALENTS SUPREMO being crowded. Near the 100 Metres, M Chadwick (FUN N GLORY) dropped his right rein. FUN TOGETHER raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. When questioned regarding his riding over the final 100 Metres, L Currie (SUPER FAST DRAGON) stated that approaching the 100 Metres his mount commenced to make ground and he was assessing the availability of runs. He said when he identified AWESOME TREASURE in advance of him, he felt he was unable to ride his mount along with full vigour after the 100 Metres as he was concerned he might run up onto that horse’s heels. He added when he was able to identify a run to the inside of AWESOME TREASURE near the 50 Metres, he was able to place full pressure on his mount whereby SUPER FAST DRAGON finished off the race well. The Stewards were satisfied that the tactics adopted by Jockey Currie were reasonable. After the race, K Teetan (NICETOBEMET) reported that his mount raced too keenly in the middle stages when the pace of the event eased and near the 800 Metres was steadied to avoid AWESOME TREASURE. He added as a result NICETOBEMET did not run on as well as expected. A veterinary inspection of NICETOBEMET immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, NICETOBEMET will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of BABY CRYSTAL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BABY CRYSTAL, FUN N GLORY and HONG KONG HALL were sent for sampling.