21/04/2018  Shatin  Race 2

ELUSIVE STATE (O Doleuze) shifted out at the start and bumped TOP ACE. When being ridden along, ELUSIVE STATE then shifted in, resulting in UNIQUE JOYOUS and ENORMOUS HONOUR being crowded for room. O Doleuze was reprimanded and advised that he would be expected to make more effort than he did on this occasion to prevent his mounts from shifting ground. For some distance after the 1400 Metres, ELUSIVE STATE got its head up when travelling keenly and awkwardly placed behind SUPERIOR BOY. UNIQUE JOYOUS got its head on the side and lay out making the turn after the 600 Metres. At the entrance to the Straight, NAMJONG INVINCIBLE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of LET US WIN when being shifted to the outside of that horse to obtain clear running. Near the 150 Metres, GOLDEN SLEEP raced tight between GRAND HARBOUR and LET US WIN (J Moreira) which lay in. This resulted in J Moreira having to stop riding and straighten his mount. After this, LET US WIN continued to lay in and proved difficult to ride, resulting in J Moreira having to again stop riding and straighten his mount close to the finishing line. Throughout the race, TOP ACE travelled wide and without cover. When interviewed, A Sanna (ENORMOUS HONOUR) stated that when riding his mount out with the whip in the right hand, his whip became caught under the breast plate near the 100 Metres. He said as he was pulling on the whip to extricate it out from underneath the breast plate, his right shoulder partially dislocated, resulting in him being unable to properly test the horse over the final 100 Metres. He said he had previously suffered a similar injury some ten years ago. He said after the race he dismounted from ENORMOUS HONOUR due to him suffering pain in his right arm and was not able to ride it back to the unsaddling area. As A Sanna was unable to weigh in due to being attended to by medical officers on the track, the Stewards, acting under the powers of Rule 112(5), permitted weighed-in to be notified without Jockey Sanna having weighed in as they were satisfied that there were no circumstances to suggest that less than the proper weight had been carried by ENORMOUS HONOUR throughout the race. A Sanna was subsequently stood down by the Club’s medical officer for his remaining riding engagements and was transported to hospital for treatment. On arrival back at the track after being treated, A Sanna was cleared to ride track work. Jockey Sanna was advised that he must be cleared by the Club’s medical officer prior to being permitted to ride in races again. A further release will be made at the appropriate time. A veterinary inspection of SEMPITERNAL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GOLDEN SLEEP, NAMJONG INVINCIBLE and LET US WIN were sent for sampling.