01/10/2016  Shatin  Race 10

BEAUTY ONLY was shifted across behind runners soon after the start. On the first turn after passing the 900 Metres, BRILLIANT SHINE got its head up, shifted out and became awkward on the heels of HORSE OF FORTUNE. JOYFUL TRINITY, which was following, shifted in away from the heels of BRILLIANT SHINE, resulting in BEAUTY ONLY being momentarily crowded for room. After the 700 Metres, CONTENTMENT commenced to travel keenly and shifted out off the heels of BEAUTY FLAME into a three wide position without cover. This resulted in HORSE OF FORTUNE being taken wider. J Moreira (JOYFUL TRINITY) was reprimanded for allowing his mount to shift in abruptly passing the 200 Metres, resulting in HORSE OF FORTUNE being hampered when carried in. Approaching the 100 Metres, SECRET WEAPON was steadied away from the heels of HORSE OF FORTUNE which shifted out. Throughout the race, HORSE OF FORTUNE travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding his riding of BEAUTY ONLY rounding the Home Turn, Z Purton stated that approaching the Home Turn he was following HELENE PARAGON. He said approaching the 500 Metres he observed that S Clipperton, the rider of HELENE PARAGON, had commenced to shift ground away from the rail and he felt that this would present BEAUTY ONLY with an opportunity to improve its position inside HELENE PARAGON. He said however that HELENE PARAGON then moved back in slightly to maintain its position behind the leader DASHING FELLOW and as a consequence he had to steady BEAUTY ONLY in order to improve to the outside of HELENE PARAGON. He added he rode the horse in a hands and heels fashion in the early part of the Straight and near the 200 Metres had to stop riding briefly when he observed HORSE OF FORTUNE being carried in by the winner JOYFUL TRINITY. He said he then continued to ride BEAUTY ONLY hands and heels and the horse closed off well. When questioned, C Schofield stated that, from barrier 11, he had been asked to ride PACKING PINS positively as it was felt that with a number of on-pace runners, the field may break up due to a fast early pace. He said however after being pushed along for the first 100 Metres when horses to the inside of PACKING PINS, primarily ROMANTIC TOUCH and HORSE OF FORTUNE, were being ridden along and due to the make-up of the field, he felt that had he continued to press forward, PACKING PINS would have been forced to race wide. He said he therefore steadied PACKING PINS and shifted in behind ROMANTIC TOUCH to obtain a trailing position. He said PACKING PINS travelled relatively comfortably throughout the middle stages, however, when brought to the outside and placed under pressure in the Straight, PACKING PINS did not respond as he anticipated it would and proved disappointing. C Schofield added that, in his opinion, PACKING PINS appeared to race “flat”. A veterinary inspection of PACKING PINS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on BRILLIANT SHINE at the request of Trainer C H Yip. The Veterinary Surgeon reported that this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, BRILLIANT SHINE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. JOYFUL TRINITY and BEAUTY ONLY were sent for sampling.