21/09/2019  Shatin  Race 2

On arrival at the Start, it was noted that G UNIT had lost its left front plate which necessitated the horse having to be replated. This resulted in a delay to the start of the race. MERIDIAN GENIUS began awkwardly. SUNSHINE UNIVERSE began awkwardly and then was bumped by QUADRUPLE DOUBLE. E GENERATION and WONDER WIN bumped at the start. GLORIOUS BUDDY began only fairly and then was bumped by GUN GUN WIN which shifted in. Near the 550 Metres, GUNNAR shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of HAPPY GOOD GUYS. GUNNAR and HAPPY GOOD GUYS again made contact passing the 400 Metres. For some distance approaching and passing the 500 Metres, JIMSON THE DRAGON was awkwardly placed close to the heels of G UNIT when attempting to improve inside that horse. As JIMSON THE DRAGON improved to the inside of G UNIT, that horse shifted in under pressure, resulting in JIMSON THE DRAGON being awkwardly placed, shifting in and inconveniencing APOLLOS BOW which came under pressure. SUNSHINE UNIVERSE, which was following APOLLOS BOW, was shifted to the inside of that horse passing the 400 Metres. After this, JIMSON THE DRAGON remained awkwardly placed inside G UNIT which continued to lay in under pressure. Passing the 500 Metres, APOLLOS BOW was momentarily awkwardly placed outside the heels of QUADRUPLE DOUBLE which got its head on the side and lay out. Passing the 150 Metres, APOLLOS BOW shifted in and was steadied away from the heels of HAPPY GOOD GUYS. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in due to contact occurring between MERIDIAN GENIUS, the winner of the race, and VICTORY POWER (Z Purton), second placegetter, over the final 100 Metres. It was found that near the 200 Metres VICTORY POWER shifted in under pressure. It was further found that at the 100 Metres MERIDIAN GENIUS and VICTORY POWER brushed due to both horses shifting ground. After this, MERIDIAN GENIUS and VICTORY POWER continued to race tight and passing the finishing line again brushed. As the Stewards were satisfied that the contact between the two horses was initially as a result of both horses shifting ground which then resulted in them racing tight over the concluding stages, the matter did not proceed to a formal protest/objection hearing. Accordingly, weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. Whilst it had no bearing on the decision of the Stewards, Z Purton viewed the videos before electing not to enter a protest/objection on behalf of the connections of VICTORY POWER. MERIDIAN GENIUS and VICTORY POWER were sent for sampling.