28/04/2024  Shatin  Race 10

HASTEN DELIGHT (J229): After the race, H Bowman reported that his mount raced too keenly in the early stages. He added that after entering the Home Straight HASTEN DELIGHT had some difficulty obtaining clear running when positioned behind GRACIOUS EXPRESS and finished the race off in a one-paced manner. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. JAMES TAK (J007): Approaching the 100 Metres lay out under pressure, resulting in its rider C L Chau having to correct his mount. Sent for sampling post-race. STELLAR EXPRESS (J186): Was obliged to race very wide and without cover throughout the event. A veterinary inspection immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GUSTOSISIMO (J303): Jumped only fairly and from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. STORM RIDER (J027): From the outside barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 100 Metres was steadied when momentarily crowded between MASSIVE ACTION and GUSTOSISIMO. After the race, Z Purton stated that his mount failed to handle the "Yielding” track conditions and blundered on a number of occasions. GRACIOUS EXPRESS (J188): Jumped awkwardly and was then hampered when bumped by TELECOM POWER which shifted out. STAR CLUB (H239): When questioned regarding his riding, B Shinn stated that he had expected to take a position towards the rear of the field as STAR CLUB had performed best when being ridden in this manner. When questioned regarding his riding making the Home Turn and as to whether there was an opportunity to improve to the outside of STORM RIDER, B Shinn stated that his instructions were to not expose his mount too early in the Home Straight as STAR CLUB has only a short sprint and if he placed his mount under pressure too soon it would not finish the race off well. He added for this reason he elected to remain racing at the rear of the field behind GUSTOSISIMO which he felt was still travelling reasonably well and would provide him with a horse to follow into the race. He said when GUSTOSISIMO did not initially respond to his rider’s urgings in the early part of the Home Straight, he became held up for clear running behind that runner until near the 300 Metres when he shifted to its inside in an attempt to secure clear running. He added that at this point TELECOM POWER was giving ground and he was then held up behind that runner before obtaining clear running after the 200 Metres. Trainer D J Hall confirmed the instructions issued and confirmed that he had specifically asked Jockey Shinn not to improve into the event too soon as the horse had not finished its races off when ridden in this manner previously. After considering this explanations, the Stewards found the tactics adopted by Jockey Shinn in the circumstances were reasonable, however, the Stewards advised that with the benefit of hindsight the better option would have been to shift to the outside of STORM RIDER making the Home Turn which would have allowed him to improve into the race in the early part of the Home Straight. FULL CREDIT (J185): Sent for sampling post-race. MASSIVE ACTION (E445): Near the 200 Metres was steadied away from PHOENIX LIGHT (A Atzeni) which shifted out to improve. A Atzeni will be reprimanded. CALIFORNIA DEEPLY (G451): No report. TELECOM POWER (J332): Shifted out at the start and was bumped. BULB EMPEROR (J241): Near the 900 Metres blundered when being steadied away from MASSIVE ACTION which shifted out slightly. Near the 700 Metres was steadied away from MASSIVE ACTION. PHOENIX LIGHT (G192): Sent for sampling post-race. COLOURFUL PRINCE (E418): No report.