01/01/2018  Shatin  Race 2

Trainer Y S Tsui was fined the sum of $2,000 for incorrectly declaring A Badel as the rider of DAZZLE WINNER when A Sanna had been engaged to ride that horse in this race. On arrival at the Start, it was noted that VIVA COUNCIL had lost its left front plate. After this plate was refitted, VIVA COUNCIL was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. DAZZLE WINNER, which was difficult to load, will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test before being allowed to race again. BRILLIANT MONKEYS bumped the outside gate of its stall on jumping and consequently began awkwardly and then shortly after the start was crowded for room between LIGHTNING AND GOLD which was taken out by AMAZING ALWAYS and LE PANACHE which shifted in. VIVA COUNCIL and FAITHFUL BOY bumped at the start. MAGICAL CHAMPION began awkwardly and then from a wide barrier was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, FAITHFUL BOY failed to muster speed. SICHUAN CHIEF lost its left front plate near the 1500 Metres. Passing the 1500 Metres, SICHUAN CHIEF momentarily raced in restricted room inside LE PEGASE which shifted in before being straightened by its rider. Passing the 1200 Metres, FAITHFUL BOY was momentarily steadied away from the heels of WINNING CONTROLLER. Near the 1050 Metres, when being steadied away from the heels of BRILLIANT MONKEYS, MAGICAL CHAMPION shifted in abruptly, resulting in some inconvenience to LIGHTNING AND GOLD. MAGICAL CHAMPION was promptly corrected by its rider. After being crossed by SICHUAN CHIEF at the 1000 Metres, VIVA COUNCIL shifted out around the heels of that horse and made contact with LE PEGASE which was taken into a position three wide and without cover. For some distance after leaving the 900 Metres, FAITHFUL BOY raced keenly and was steadied away from the heels of WINNING CONTROLLER. BRILLIANT MONKEYS, which was trailing FAITHFUL BOY, was steadied away from the heels of that horse approaching the 600 Metres. M Chadwick (SUPERNATURAL) dropped his whip near the 400 Metres. Leaving the 100 Metres, WINNING CONTROLLER was momentarily awkwardly placed outside the heels of VIVA COUNCIL which shifted out under pressure. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of BRILLIANT MONKEYS, J Moreira stated that the horse had previously experienced issues with blood in the trachea having been detected on a number of occasions. He said in today’s race he had to ride the horse along for a considerable distance in the early stages as BRILLIANT MONKEYS was reluctant to stretch out. He said had he not have ridden the horse along, BRILLIANT MONEYS felt as though it would have got out of its ground in the early stages. He said BRILLIANT MONKEYS did not travel well and throughout the race made a number of abnormal breathing noises. He added BRILLIANT MONKEYS came under pressure at the 400 Metres and after this did not respond to his riding. A veterinary inspection of BRILLIANT MONKEYS immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea and found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. The performance of BRILLIANT MONKEYS, a favourite for today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BRILLIANT MONKEYS 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 SICHUAN CHIEF and JOLLY AMBER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of DAZZLE WINNER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. BRILLIANT MONKEYS, VIVA COUNCIL and AMAZING ALWAYS were sent for sampling.