13/01/2024  Shatin  Race 3

MUST GO (J133): Near the 900 Metres was steadied when crowded for room. When questioned, Z Purton stated that his instructions were to take up a forward position, but his mount raced greenly throughout the event. He said making the Home Turn MUST GO, which had a tendency to lay in from the 600 Metres, then shifted out and made the turn wider when he pulled the whip through to his right hand. He added in the Home Straight MUST GO continued to race greenly and lay out on entering the Home Straight which resulted in him pulling the whip through to his left hand to correct his mount, but then when under pressure, MUST GO hung in and proved difficult to ride out to the finish of the event before giving ground over the concluding stages. Trainer J Size confirmed the instructions were to take up a more forward position and was of the view that MUST GO may not have appreciated the addition of a hood today. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SIGHT HERO (D487): Jumped only fairly and then was crowded shortly after the start. After the race, K Teetan reported that his mount failed to respond to his riding when placed under pressure in the early part of the Home Straight and he did not ride it out to the finish when not in a competitive position. He added that when returning to the unsaddling area SIGHT HERO fell over before regaining to its feet shortly after. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of SIGHT HERO was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SIGHT HERO will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination which must include additional diagnostic assessments. RUN RUN TIMING (H403): Sent for sampling post-race. COPARTNER PRANCE (H408): Sent for sampling post-race. FLYING ROMANTIC (J057): After being loaded into the starting gates got its left hind leg momentarily caught on the running board. Removed from the barriers, examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. Jumped only fairly and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. In the middle stages raced keenly. Near the 200 Metres was checked when crowded between FUNG and GUSTY FIGHTER (A Atzeni) which, when laying in, shifted in and away from MUST GO before then racing tight to the inside of MUST GO which shifted in when being corrected by its rider Z Purton. A Atzeni was advised to exercise more care and make a greater effort to prevent his mounts from shifting ground. However, the Stewards found that the racing manners of GUSTY FIGHTER and MUST GO were the principal reason for the interference occurring. In this incident, FLYING ROMANTIC struck the heels of GUSTY FIGHTER and blundered. FUNG (J101): Crowded near the 200 Metres. INVINCIBLE LUCKY (J119): No report. RUBY SAILING (H347): Inside the 50 Metres lay out and was corrected by its rider H Bowman. GUSTY FIGHTER (J029): Near the 1000 Metres was steadied to avoid RUBY SAILING (H Bowman) which shifted in when not quite clear. H Bowman was advised to exercise more care. In the early and middle stages raced keenly. In the Home Straight lay in and proved difficult to ride out. ISLAND BRIGHT (H363): Noted to have blood in its mouth on arrival at the Start, examined by the Veterinary Officer and passed suitable to race. THE GOOD DEAL (G025): Near the 900 Metres was steadied when crowded by MUST GO which was taken in by RUN RUN TIMING (H Bentley). H Bentley was advised to exercise more care. KING OF THE COURT (E384): Slow to begin. Near the 100 Metres was shifted to the outside of THE GOOD DEAL to continue into clear running.