16/07/2023  Shatin  Race 11

BUNDLE OF CHARM was crowded shortly after the start between GOKO WIN which shifted out and PACKING TREADMILL which shifted in after being brushed by KA YING MASTER. FLYING ACE was slow to begin. ATOMIC FORCE and POWER KOEPP jumped only fairly. POWER KOEPP was then shifted across behind runners from an outside barrier in the early stages. Near the 900 Metres, PACKING TREADMILL (B Avdulla) was steadied to obtain cover behind BUNDLE OF CHARM. B Avdulla reported that once positioned behind BUNDLE OF CHARM, PACKING TREADMILL lost ground quickly and despite his efforts to maintain the position close to BUNDLE OF CHARM, he was unable to do so. As a result, ROCK YA HEART, which was following, was checked to avoid PACKING TREADMILL which then resulted in ATOMIC FORCE being severely checked away from ROCK YA HEART, shifting out and making contact with GOLDEN EXPRESS, resulting in GOLDEN EXPRESS becoming unbalanced. Whilst the Stewards accepted that PACKING TREADMILL had lost ground once positioned behind BUNDLE OF CHARM and that Jockey Avdulla had endeavoured to maintain his position behind that runner, he was nonetheless advised he should ensure that he does not steady his mounts too quickly so as to avoid runners behind him being placed in an awkward position. For a short distance near the 300 Metres, FLYING ACE was held up behind YOUTHFUL DEAL. Passing the 300 Metres, ROCK YA HEART was checked when crowded between GOKO WIN which shifted out and away from FLYING ACE before being corrected by its rider and COMPUTER PATCH (Apprentice Y L Chung) which shifted in. Apprentice Chung was reprimanded and advised that he must stop riding and straighten his mounts when they shift ground. Near the 200 Metres, GOKO WIN was hampered when FLYING ACE shifted out to improve. After the race, A Badel (ADIOS) stated that his instructions were to obtain cover on the horse from the outside barrier. He said with the fast pace in the early stages, he was obliged to settle further back in the field in order to comply with his instructions where he then settled behind the favourite and winner of the event GOLDEN EXPRESS. Trainer F C Lor confirmed the instructions were to find cover and indicated that ADIOS had been obliged to settle a little further back than what he intended due to drawing the outside barrier. Also after the race, M Chadwick (BEAUTY CHARGE) stated that his mount was obliged to race wide and without cover for the majority of the event and as a consequence failed to finish the race off as expected. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY CHARGE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Following the race, C Y Ho (YOUTHFUL DEAL) reported that his mount is better suited on the All Weather surface. A veterinary inspection of YOUTHFUL DEAL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of ROCK YA HEART immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GOLDEN EXPRESS and BUNDLE OF CHARM were sent for sampling.