09/07/2017  Shatin  Race 5

WINFULL PATROL was withdrawn on 8.7.17 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter CREME BRULEE (U Rispoli). Before being allowed to race again, WINFULL PATROL will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. MAGICAL CHAMPION began awkwardly and lost ground. PEACE COMBINATION began awkwardly and shifted in at the start, bumping with ENCORE BOY which also shifted out. ENCORE BOY then became unbalanced after being bumped by GALLANT ROCK which shifted out. In this incident, ENCORE BOY shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of PEACE COMBINATION, causing that horse to become unbalanced and in turn shift out and inconvenience BRAVE KNIGHT. After this, ENCORE BOY, when being ridden along, lay out and raced tight inside PEACE COMBINATION. Passing the 300 Metres, SUNSHINE UNIVERSE was shifted in across the heels of HOT HOT PEPPER in an attempt to obtain clear running. Near the 250 Metres, SUNSHINE UNIVERSE shifted in and bumped PEACE COMBINATION (J Moreira). When this occurred, J Moreira dropped his whip. After this, SUNSHINE UNIVERSE and PEACE COMBINATION raced tight and passing the 100 Metres SUNSHINE UNIVERSE and PEACE COMBINATION again bumped on a number of occasions as SUNSHINE UNIVERSE attempted to improve into tight running between PEACE COMBINATION which was laying out and ENCORE BOY which also shifted out under pressure. Close to the finishing line, SUNSHINE UNIVERSE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ENCORE BOY which was straightened by its rider. This resulted in SUNSHINE UNIVERSE and PEACE COMBINATION again making contact as PEACE COMBINATION continued to lay out. Consequently SUNSHINE UNIVERSE was not able to be properly tested all the way to the end of the race. PEACE COMBINATION also proved difficult to ride out over the final 200 Metres when laying out. Passing the 50 Metres, BRAVE KNIGHT was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of BEEKELY. When questioned, Apprentice H T Mo (FISH N’ CHIPS) stated that he was instructed to ride the horse in a forward position. He said in the early stages FISH N’ CHIPS was able to race prominently to be positioned inside GALLANT ROCK. He said however FISH N’ CHIPS did not feel comfortable in its action and passing the 700 Metres got its head on the side and lay out towards the heels of GALLANT ROCK when ENCHANTED FEELING improved to its inside. He said after this FISH N’ CHIPS was reluctant to maintain its position when racing tight outside ENCHANTED FEELING. He added FISH N’ CHIPS continued to be reluctant to stretch out after being shifted away from the heels of the tiring GALLANT ROCK near the 250 Metres and subsequently finished off the race only fairly. A veterinary inspection of FISH N’ CHIPS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, S Clipperton stated that after being vigorously ridden along in the early stages from the inside barrier to take up a forward position, ZERO HEDGE travelled only fairly in the middle stages and then came under pressure passing the 500 Metres. He said after this ZERO HEDGE was disappointing in the manner in which it gave ground. A veterinary inspection of ZERO HEDGE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, Apprentice H N Wong stated that in the middle stages TOURBILLON KING appeared reluctant to maintain its position when racing tight outside BEEKELY. He said he had to ride his mount along after the 600 Metres in an endeavour to have it maintain its position, however, TOURBILLON KING would not stretch out fully and then after BEEKELY was able to establish a margin over TOURBILLON KING, his mount weakened and was disappointing. A veterinary inspection of TOURBILLON KING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. A veterinary inspection of GALLANT ROCK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ENCORE BOY and HOT HOT PEPPER were sent for sampling.