25/06/2017  Shatin  Race 4

On arrival at the barriers, PRESIDENTPARAMOUNT, which kicked a rail on the way to the Start, was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. When parading behind the barriers, GIOVANNI BATTISTA became fractious and whipped around, resulting in its rider, H W Lai, being dislodged. GIOVANNI BATTISTA then galloped to the end of the 1800 Metre chute and took some time to be recaptured. Acting on veterinary advice that GIOVANNI BATTISTA was not suitable to race, the horse was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, GIOVANNI BATTISTA will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When GIOVANNI BATTISTA proceeded to the end of the 1800 Metre chute and as there was likely to be a considerable delay to the start of the race, the majority of the field, which had been loaded into the barriers, were unloaded. H W Lai was subsequently transported to hospital and as such was unable to fulfil his remaining race riding engagements. IVICTORY was crowded for room on jumping between TRIUMPHANT JEWEL and INTREPIC which shifted in after beginning awkwardly. MEGA TREASURE began only fairly and then shifted out and was steadied away from the heels of EASY TOUCH which shifted in after being bumped by WINSTON’S LAD. From the outside barrier, SUPER LUCKY was shifted across behind runners in the early stages and subsequently raced greenly. In the early stages, PRESIDENTPARAMOUNT was steadied to obtain cover and passing the 1000 Metres got its head up for a considerable distance when proving very difficult to settle and being checked away from the heels of ALCAZAR. Near the 1050 Metres, INTREPIC shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of IVICTORY, resulting in that horse becoming unbalanced and shifting out which caused INTREPIC to be awkwardly placed outside the heels of IVICTORY for a short distance. Approaching the 1000 Metres, ALCAZAR got its head up when travelling keenly and awkwardly placed outside the heels of INTREPIC. Also approaching the 1000 Metres, PRIMERO was awkwardly placed close to the heels of IVICTORY. Passing the 800 Metres, SUPER LUCKY, which was continuing to race greenly, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of PRESIDENTPARAMOUNT. Rounding the Home Turn, BEAUTY MASTER got its head on the side and lay out. Also rounding the Home Turn, PRESIDENTPARAMOUNT got its head up when being shifted out across the heels of ALCAZAR to obtain clear running. Over the concluding stages, PRIMERO was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WINSTON’S LAD. Throughout the race, EASY TOUCH travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, U Rispoli (IVICTORY) stated that as Trainer J Size was not present at today’s racemeeting, he spoke with Mr Size yesterday regarding how the horse should be ridden in the race. He said it was felt that the race contained good early speed and it was also believed that a number of horses which would likely form part of that speed may not finish off their races strongly and therefore he was asked to ensure that IVICTORY remained racing in a one-off position so that the horse was able to obtain clear running at the earliest opportunity in the Straight. He said IVICTORY became unsettled after having to be removed from the barriers as a result of the race being delayed and consequently travelled keenly in the early stages. He said after being bumped by INTREPIC near the 1050 Metres, IVICTORY commenced to travel more keenly and for a considerable distance approaching and passing the 900 Metres got its head up when being checked away from the heels of SO FAST. He said after this IVICTORY raced more tractably and he was able to obtain clear running to the outside of SO FAST in the early part of the Straight. He added IVICTORY did not quicken as he expected it would in the early part of the Straight and after this finished off the race one-paced. He said whilst IVICTORY may have appeared disappointing, he felt that the horse, which was only having its third race start, was still immature and the circumstances of the race resulted in the horse not showing the same turn of foot that it had at its previous starts. A veterinary inspection of IVICTORY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. IVICTORY, INTREPIC and CHARITY GLORY were sent for sampling.