28/02/2018  Shatin  Race 7

FIGHT HERO lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and began awkwardly. GREAT HONOUR began only fairly. JING JING WIN and BIG TIME BABY bumped at the start. From the outside barrier, PERPETUAL JOYANCE was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 900 Metres, GREAT HONOUR was bumped by TEAM FORTUNE which shifted in abruptly away from the heels of GUNNISON which was being steadied to obtain cover. Making the turn approaching the 700 Metres, BIG TIME BABY, which shifted out after being awkwardly placed close to the heels of PABLOSKY, bumped GUNNISON. In the early part of the Straight, JING JING WIN got its head on the side and lay in under pressure. Passing the 150 Metres, PERPETUAL JOYANCE had some difficulty obtaining clear running. Passing the 100 Metres, MOMENTUM LUCKY was bumped by FIGHT HERO (C Y Ho) which shifted to the outside of TEAM FORTUNE to obtain clear running. C Y Ho was reprimanded and advised to exercise due care when shifting ground in similar circumstances. Throughout the race, PABLOSKY travelled wide and without cover. GUNNISON also travelled wide and without cover for the majority of the race. The Stewards will question M Chadwick, the rider of CALIFORNIA FORTUNE, regarding his riding of that horse in the early part of the Straight prior to the Sha Tin racemeeting on Saturday, 3 March 2018. A veterinary inspection of BIG TIME BABY immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, BIG TIME BABY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of JING JING WIN immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, JING JING WIN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. JING JING WIN, BLOCKER DEE and FIGHT HERO were sent for sampling. <3/3/2018 28 February 2018 Sha Tin Racemeeting – Race 7 (464)> The Stewards today questioned Jockey M Chadwick regarding his riding of CALIFORNIA FORTUNE. He said as he was instructed to lead the race, he rode CALIFORNIA FORTUNE positively in the early stages. He said he had to ride the horse for a considerable distance to clear BIG TIME BABY on his inside and he was not able to cross that horse until near the 800 Metres. He said he then commenced to shift towards the rail, however, approaching the 700 Metres he received a call from the rider of BLOCKER DEE which had improved its position to be racing inside CALIFORNIA FORTUNE. He said he was then required to prevent CALIFORNIA FORTUNE from shifting in further and interfering with BLOCKER DEE. He said given that he had to ride the horse along for some distance in the early stages, he did not want to again commence to ride his mount along to clear BLOCKER DEE and for this reason he remained racing outside that horse. He added in the early part of the Straight he did not immediately commence to ride CALIFORNIA FORTUNE along as in a number of its previous races the horse had not finished off the race when unable to obtain an outright lead. He said as BLOCKER DEE was positioned to the inside of CALIFORNIA FORTUNE and as his mount was maintaining its position with BLOCKER DEE, he held CALIFORNIA FORTUNE up in the early part of the Straight to present it with the best opportunity to quicken when required. He said at this time he was also mindful that he had had to ride the horse along throughout the early stages and he believed that commencing to ride his horse too early would result in it not being able to find the line strongly. He said he placed CALIFORNIA FORTUNE under pressure passing the 300 Metres when still marginally ahead of BLOCKER DEE, however, CALIFORNIA FORTUNE did not finish off the race strongly and lost ground on BLOCKER DEE over the concluding stages. After considering Jockey Chadwick’s evidence, he was advised that his explanation had been accepted.