10/07/2016  Shatin  Race 3

GIANT TURTLE shifted out at the start and bumped CHEERFUL FRAME. XINJIANG YARN and RAPID TRIUMPH were crowded for room on jumping between THE RAINBOW and WEALTHY FORTUNE, both of which shifted ground. On jumping, COMMANDANT shifted in and bumped BEST JADE TRIUMPH. Shortly after the start, HIT A HOME RUN got its head on the side and shifted in despite the efforts of its rider, resulting in BLAZING PASS becoming unbalanced. A short distance after this, BLAZING PASS was steadied away from the heels of LUCKY FRIENDS which shifted out. Approaching the 1700 Metres, COMMANDANT shifted in, resulting in BEST JADE TRIUMPH being taken in onto THE RAINBOW which became unbalanced after shifting in and bumping the hindquarters of XINJIANG YARN which also became unbalanced. Despite being aggressively ridden for a considerable distance in the early stages, ROUGE ET BLANC failed to muster speed and consequently got well back in the early stages. In the early stages, LUCKY FRIENDS travelled wide and without cover after being hard ridden to obtain a forward position. LUCKY FRIENDS then commenced to give ground abruptly from the 800 Metres. This resulted in ROUGE ET BLANC, which was following LUCKY FRIENDS, having to shift out away from the heels of that horse passing the 800 Metres and then improving its position. A veterinary inspection of LUCKY FRIENDS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. However, the Veterinary Officer reported that a full endoscopic examination of LUCKY FRIENDS was not able to be undertaken due to the fractious nature of the horse. The performance of LUCKY FRIENDS, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, LUCKY FRIENDS will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a series of consecutive barrier trials and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Approaching the 1100 Metres, RAPID TRIUMPH brushed the running rail of its own accord. Passing the 800 Metres, THE RAINBOW was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LUCKY FRIENDS which continued to give ground. BEST JADE TRIUMPH was also shifted out away from LUCKY FRIENDS at this time. Passing the 700 Metres, HIT A HOME RUN momentarily raced tight between WINNING STAR and LUCKY FRIENDS. In this incident, HIT A HOME RUN bumped the hindquarters of WINNING STAR. Passing the 500 Metres, HIT A HOME RUN and BLAZING PASS raced tight and came into contact as HIT A HOME RUN shifted out into clear running. K Teetan (XINJIANG YARN) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that passing the 350 Metres he directed his mount to the outside of DRAGON HARMONY when not clear of THE RAINBOW, causing that horse to be buffeted for room and to be checked when crowded inside HIT A HOME RUN. K Teetan was fined $190,000. For some distance passing the 350 Metres, RAPID TRIUMPH was checked when held up for clear running behind COMMANDANT which was giving ground. After this, RAPID TRIUMPH was shifted out away from the heels of ROUGE ET BLANC near the 200 Metres. The performance of COMMANDANT, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, COMMANDANT 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 ROUGE ET BLANC immediately following the race found that horse to be a “roarer”. A veterinary inspection of THE RAINBOW immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BLAZING PASS, HIT A HOME RUN and WEALTHY FORTUNE were sent for sampling.