23/01/2022  Shatin  Race 10

CIRCUIT STELLAR began only fairly and shifted out towards the hindquarters of CIRCUIT MIGHTY. HALL OF CHAMP shifted in at the start and bumped the hindquarters of STAR BRITE which in turn shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of SEASONS BLISS. NOTHING NEW began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped DRAGON FORTUNE. BEAUTY CHAMP got its head up on jumping when being steadied from a wide barrier to obtain cover. From a wide barrier, KASI FARASI was also steadied to obtain a position closer to the rail. M Chadwick (NOTHING NEW) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 1300 Metres he permitted his mount to shift in when not clear of NAVAS TWO, resulting in that horse being hampered when crowded for room inside NOTHING NEW. In the circumstances, M Chadwick was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 2 March 2022 and to expire on Monday, 7 March 2022 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). STAR BRITE, which was racing keenly inside NAVAS TWO, was inconvenienced in consequence. When being steadied to obtain cover, PEGASUS HERO shifted in after the 1300 Metres and bumped HALL OF CHAMP. After the 1200 Metres, BEAUTY CHAMP over-raced and got its head up on a number of occasions. Approaching and passing the 1000 Metres, STAR BRITE commenced to prove very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of SEASONS BLISS for a considerable distance. Then passing the 500 Metres, STAR BRITE was checked out away from the heels of HALL OF CHAMP. CIRCUIT STELLAR got its head on the side and lay out rounding the Home Turn. CIRCUIT MIGHTY made the Home Turn awkwardly, shifted out and hampered NOTHING NEW which was taken out onto CLASSIC POSH, resulting in that horse being shifted out away from the heels of NOTHING NEW when racing tight inside NAVAS TWO. Passing the 400 Metres, HEZA BEAUTY shifted in and bumped HALL OF CHAMP. DRAGON FORTUNE was badly held up for clear running from approaching the 300 Metres until near the 200 Metres. Approaching the 200 Metres, SEASONS BLISS was shifted out away from the heels of CIRCUIT STELLAR which shifted out under pressure. SEASONS BLISS then shifted out away from CIRCUIT STELLAR and inconvenienced CIRCUIT MIGHTY. Near the 100 Metres, J Moreira (CIRCUIT STELLAR) dropped his whip. NAVAS TWO travelled wide and without cover throughout. When questioned, H Bentley (DRAGON FORTUNE) stated that from a wide barrier he was asked to attempt to obtain a position in about midfield with cover if possible. He said after shifting his mount across in the early stages, he was not able to obtain cover due to HEZA BEAUTY maintaining its position behind NAVAS TWO. He said rather than remain racing wide, he believed that it would be more beneficial for DRAGON FORTUNE to be steadied to obtain cover behind initially HEZA BEAUTY and then BEAUTY CHAMP rather than riding his mount along in an attempt to clear runners to his inside and obtain a forward position. He said this resulted in DRAGON FORTUNE racing much further back in the field than had been intended. After the race, B Shinn attributed the disappointing performance of HEZA BEAUTY to the fact that the horse was required to race very wide and without cover for the majority of the race. A veterinary inspection of HEZA BEAUTY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of PEGASUS HERO and NOTHING NEW immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NAVAS TWO and SEASONS BLISS were sent for sampling.