06/11/2022  Shatin  Race 8

CALIFORNIA REDWOOD was withdrawn on 5.11.22 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (heart irregularity). Before being allowed to race again, CALIFORNIA REDWOOD will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. KASA PAPA was slow to begin. PRINCE ALEX shifted out at the start and bumped WIN WIN FIGHTER. PRINCE ALEX was then crowded for room between WIN WIN FIGHTER and DORADO FIG which shifted out. In this incident, WIN WIN FIGHTER became unbalanced after being bumped by PRINCE ALEX. From the outside barriers, IMPERIAL MAGEE and MASTER MONTARO were steadied on jumping and shifted across behind runners. When being shifted across behind runners, IMPERIAL MAGEE got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of PRINCE ALEX after being bumped by MASTER MONTARO which shifted in when racing keenly. When under pressure, DORADO FIG shifted out abruptly approaching the 500 Metres. DORADO FIG then gave ground in the Straight and finished tailed out. The performance of DORADO FIG was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, DORADO FIG will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of DORADO FIG immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. At the 150 Metres, KASA PAPA was directed out away from the heels of TRADER to continue improving. When questioned, K C Leung (ALL RICHES) stated that after obtaining the lead in the early stages, ALL RICHES travelled comfortably until TRADER commenced to improve to the outside of ALL RICHES after the 1000 Metres. He said when TRADER improved its position, ALL RICHES commenced to travel keenly and would not relax which resulted in the race being run at a much faster tempo than he had hoped. When questioned, Apprentice Y L Chung (TRADER) stated that he was asked to either lead the race or sit outside the leader which it was anticipated may be ALL RICHES. He said in the early stages he formed the view that ALL RICHES was going to lead and therefore he shifted TRADER across to race outside that horse. He said after the 1000 Metres TRADER commenced to travel keenly and he was reluctant to steady his mount too much to ensure that the horse did not break its stride. He said after reviewing the video after the race, he was of the opinion that TRADER’s interests would have been served by him making more of an effort to steady the horse give the tempo of the race and the margin that both ALL RICHES and TRADER had established over the remainder of the field. Apprentice Chung was told that the Stewards agreed with his assessment of his riding of TRADER at the relevant stage. He was told to ensure that he rates his horses in such a manner in the future to allow them the best opportunity to finish the race off. ERIMO and ALL RICHES were sent for sampling.