12/03/2017  Shatin  Race 5

At declaration time, Z Purton was declared as the rider of both GARLIC YEAH and FANCY MUSIC. It was established that Z Purton had a firm commitment to GARLIC YEAH. As such, the Stewards permitted N Callan to be substituted as the rider of FANCY MUSIC. For this declaration error, Trainer P O’Sullivan was fined $2,000. BEST REWARD was withdrawn on 11.3.17 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore). Before being allowed to race again, BEST REWARD will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FANCY MUSIC proved quite reluctant to proceed to the Start. Trainer P O’Sullivan was advised that the Stewards would monitor FANCY MUSIC’s pre-race behaviour in the future before deciding if any further action was necessary. After being loaded into the barriers, the bridle fitted to FANCY MUSIC came loose, resulting in the bridle having to be refitted. GORGEOUS AGAIN was slow to begin. From the outside barriers, FANCY MUSIC and TELEPHATIA were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. BLAZING PASS and AMRITSARIA bumped heavily at the start. A short distance later, KING BOUNTIFUL was severely checked when crowded for room between AMRITSARIA which shifted out after making contact with BLAZING PASS and JE PENSE which was taken in by GARLIC YEAH. In this incident, both AMRITSARIA and JE PENSE were also badly hampered. A short distance after the start, AMRITSARIA was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GARLIC YEAH. After this, AMRITSARIA proved very difficult to settle and approaching the winning post on the first occasion shifted in away from GORGEOUS AGAIN, resulting in BLAZING PASS being crowded for room for some distance. After being crossed by GORGEOUS AGAIN near the 1800 Metres, AMRITSARIA continued to travel fiercely, resulting in JE PENSE, which was following, being checked away from the heels of AMRITSARIA in consequence. Approaching the 1700 Metres, AMRITSARIA shifted out away from the heels of GORGEOUS AGAIN, resulting in TELEPHATIA being bumped and taken wider. After the 1600 Metres, TELEPHATIA was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 500 Metres, GORGEOUS AGAIN was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOOD FIT. Passing the 400 Metres, SUPER FORM was steadied when initially disappointed for running between PREMIUM CHAMPION and GOOD FIT which shifted in. SUPER FORM was then held up for clear running for a short distance after this. Also passing the 400 Metres, GARLIC YEAH was awkwardly placed close to the heels of GORGEOUS AGAIN. At the 300 Metres, BLAZING PASS was checked when disappointed for running between AMRITSARIA and TELEPHATIA which was giving ground abruptly. In this incident, BLAZING PASS bumped AMRITSARIA. After the 150 Metres, GORGEOUS AGAIN shifted out under pressure. GARLIC YEAH, which was racing outside GORGEOUS AGAIN, shifted out and away from that horse. Approaching the 50 Metres, GOOD FIT was steadied away from the heels of PREMIUM CHAMPION which shifted out. Close to the finishing line, SUPER FORM and PREMIUM CHAMPION raced tight. GORGEOUS AGAIN and GARLIC YEAH were sent for sampling.