24/09/2017  Shatin  Race 8

THE JUDGE and ARIZONA BLIZZARD began only fairly. PAKISTAN BABY was crowded for room on jumping between HAPPY JOURNEY and SILLY BUDDIES which shifted out. After this, from wide barriers, SILLY BUDDIES and PAKISTAN BABY were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Passing the 900 Metres, RIGHT HONOURABLE was awkwardly placed inside the heels of CARE FREE PRINCE which was momentarily steadied away from the heels of WINNING VANGOGH (Z Purton) which shifted in. Z Purton was advised to exercise more care when shifting ground. After the 800 Metres, HARBOUR ALERT commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of WINNING VANGOGH. ELITE SPIRIT lay out making the Home Turn. Throughout the race, HAPPY JOURNEY travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of HARBOUR ALERT, N Callan stated that the horse was taking some time to get race fit after the seasonal break. He said in the middle stages HARBOUR ALERT proved very difficult to settle, however, the horse had previously raced in this manner and been able to finish off the race stronger than it did today, however, on those occasions the horse had a number of race starts. He said after being very difficult to settle in the middle stages, he shifted HARBOUR ALERT to the outside of SUPER MAN rounding the Home Turn, however, the horse gave ground in the Straight and did not finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of HARBOUR ALERT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, it was noted that WINNING VANGOGH had blood present at the left nostril. An endoscopic examination of WINNING VANGOGH found that horse to have bled. A veterinary inspection of ARIZONA BLIZZARD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SUPER MAN and WINNING VANGOGH were sent for sampling.