07/01/2018  Shatin  Race 10

GOOD STANDING was withdrawn on 6.1.18 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left hind) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter RIVET (T Berry). Before being allowed to race again, GOOD STANDING will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After being placed in the barriers, the hood applied to RIVET was replaced. Also after being placed in the barriers, CIRCUIT GLORY became fractious and got its front legs over the front gates. CIRCUIT GLORY was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said, after the necessary consultations, it was suitable to race. Before being allowed to race again, CIRCUIT GLORY will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. RIVET began only fairly. HAPPY AGILITY began awkwardly. DRAGON LIPS and LUCKY GIRL were crowded for room on jumping between SOLAR HEI HEI and KEEN VENTURE which shifted out. TIME TO CELEBRATE began only fairly and then shortly after the start was crowded for room between SPEEDY LONGWAH and RISE HIGH which was taken out by BIG BANG BONG. In this incident, SPEEDY LONGWAH became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by TIME TO CELEBRATE. TIME TO CELEBRATE was then shifted across behind runners. From the outside barriers, SPEEDY LONGWAH and DOCTOR GEOFF were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1400 Metres, CIRCUIT GLORY got its head up and travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover behind DRAGON LIPS. CIRCUIT GLORY was then briefly crowded for room near the 1250 Metres when racing tight inside DRAGON LIPS which was racing tight inside BIG BANG BONG. CIRCUIT GLORY lay out rounding the Home Turn. After the 300 Metres, DOCTOR GEOFF commenced to lay out under pressure and then approaching the 200 Metres shifted out abruptly. After being straightened, DOCTOR GEOFF again shifted out abruptly passing the 150 Metres and continued to hang out to the outside rail. The racing manners of DOCTOR GEOFF were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, DOCTOR GEOFF will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial. Passing the 300 Metres, CIRCUIT GLORY lay out under pressure, resulting in K C Leung, its rider, having to stop riding and changing his whip into his left hand. Passing the 150 Metres, RIVET raced tight inside KEEN VENTURE. Throughout the race, HANG’S DECISION travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Z Purton stated that he had not been given any specific instructions as to how to ride RISE HIGH. He said however connections of the horse had been disappointed that RISE HIGH had been slow to begin in a number of its races and had consequently not been able to obtain a forward position. He said he rode the horse in a barrier trial prior to its most recent start over 1600 Metres at Sha Tin and on that occasion the horse had trialed well when ridden in the lead. He said RISE HIGH began satisfactorily today and he therefore felt that the opportunity existed for the horse to take up a forward position rather than being steadied from the wide barrier which would have resulted in it having to again race back in the field. He said he had to commence to ride RISE HIGH earlier in the race than he wanted to as the horse was laying out rounding the Home Turn and he attempted to have it rail better. He added nonetheless RISE HIGH was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to finish off the race when ridden in a forward position. A veterinary inspection of RISE HIGH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of DRAGON LIPS and HAPPY AGILITY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TIME TO CELEBRATE and KEEN VENTURE were sent for sampling.