07/05/2017  Shatin  Race 3

At declaration time, M L Yeung was declared as the rider of both OUR FOLKS and ENJOY LIFE. It was established that M L Yeung had a firm commitment to ride ENJOY LIFE. As such, the Stewards permitted Apprentice H N Wong to be substituted as the rider of OUR FOLKS. For this declaration error, M L Yeung was fined $2,000. Behind the barriers, it was noted that AUTOPAY had lost its left front plate. The start was delayed when AUTOPAY, which was fractious, took some time to be replated. After being replated, AUTOPAY was examined by the Veterinary Officer and found to be suitable to race. After being loaded into the barriers, YOU KNOW WHO reared and got its left front leg in between the front gates which resulted in the gates opening. YOU KNOW WHO was removed from the barriers and examined by the Veterinary Officer who said the horse had sustained a wound to the left front upper cannon and as such was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, YOU KNOW WHO was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, YOU KNOW WHO will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Also after being placed in the barriers, SIGHT LEADER became fractious and reared on two occasions, resulting in its rider, J Moreira, being dislodged without incident. Before being allowed to race again, SIGHT LEADER will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. After being loaded, INFINITY ENDEAVOUR sat back on the back gates. INFINITY ENDEAVOUR was required to be removed from the barriers and loaded back into the stalls in order to ensure that the horse stood correctly as the start was effected. Before being allowed to race again, INFINITY ENDEAVOUR will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. INFINITY ENDEAVOUR began awkwardly. FLYING NOBLE was slow to begin. SMILING GLORY and SMART BOY bumped at the start. A short distance later, SMILING GLORY was crowded for room between SMART BOY and RESPECT which shifted out. From wide barriers, AUTOPAY and FURLONG DRAGON were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. For some distance after the 1000 Metres, AUTOPAY got its head up when proving difficult to settle. FLYING NOBLE, which was following, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of AUTOPAY in consequence. Passing the 600 Metres, SMILING GLORY commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed behind SMART BOY. In the early part of the Straight, AMAZING MOMENT lay out under pressure. Passing the 100 Metres, AUTOPAY was shifted in away from the heels of RESPECT to continue improving and close to the finishing line was awkwardly placed close to the heels of AMAZING MOMENT. In the Straight, SIGHT LEADER raced greenly and shifted ground on a number of occasions. For the majority of the race, SMART BOY travelled wide and without cover. The performance of ROCHFORD, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ROCHFORD 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 FLYING NOBLE and ROCHFORD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SIGHT LEADER and INFINITY ENDEAVOUR were sent for sampling.