21/03/2021  Shatin  Race 4

SPARKY STAR was slow to begin. Before being allowed to race again, SPARKY STAR will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. STRONG ALLIANCE began only fairly. FORMULA EXCEL shifted out on jumping and bumped ON EXCEL STAR. SMILING FACE was crowded for room on jumping between MUDITA and UNICORNBABY, both of which shifted ground. After this, from wide barriers, SMILING FACE and MUDITA were shifted across behind runners. EVERYONE’S DELIGHT began awkwardly and on jumping bumped with LUCKY MARYKNOLL which shifted in. Passing the 1200 Metres, CHARITY GRACE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of FORMULA EXCEL due to both horses shifting ground. Approaching the 800 Metres, MASTER HERO was left racing wide and without cover. Rounding the Home Turn, FORMULA EXCEL and APEX TOP raced tight as FORMULA EXCEL attempted to improve to the outside of UNICORNBABY. This resulted in APEX TOP becoming unbalanced and FORMULA EXCEL being awkwardly placed close to the heels of UNICORNBABY when unable to improve between those horses. Near the 250 Metres, THE SUBMARINE and RUBY STARS raced tight. Near the 75 Metres, A Hamelin (ON EXCEL STAR) dropped his whip. A Hamelin was told that as this was the third occasion this season that he had dropped his whip in races, he was placed on notice that should he offend again in the future, further action may be taken. When questioned, A Badel stated that he was instructed from a wide barrier to ride EVERYONE’S DELIGHT conservatively. He said on the only other occasion that EVERYONE’S DELIGHT had been ridden forward from a wide barrier over 1400 Metres the horse had not finished off the race as well as anticipated and therefore it was felt that EVERYONE’S DELIGHT may race better today if it did not have to be used up in the early stages to obtain a forward position. He said when ridden more quietly today in the early and middle stages, EVERYONE’S DELIGHT finished off the race quite well. A veterinary inspection of SPARKY STAR immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. CHARITY GRACE and MASTER HERO were sent for sampling.