16/06/2018  Shatin  Race 4

As the start was effected, ADONIS bounded in the air, resulting in its rider becoming unbalanced and the horse losing ground. Before being allowed to race again, ADONIS will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. EVERYONE’S ELITE shifted in at the start and bumped ENDEARING. HARD BALL GET shifted out at the start and bumped heavily with HAVE FUN TOGETHER which lost ground when crowded for room. From wide barriers, BEST GIFT and RELENTLESS ME were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Passing the 900 Metres, ADONIS got its head up when awkwardly placed behind HAVE FUN TOGETHER. After the 600 Metres and rounding the Home Turn, HARD BALL GET became unbalanced after being bumped by EMERALD SPUR which got its head on the side and lay out. Rounding the Home Turn, ADONIS was shifted to the outside of KEEP GOING when disappointed for running between that horse and HAVE FUN TOGETHER which shifted out away from the heels of EVERYONE’S ELITE. Rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight, FIRE AND GOLD was awkwardly placed behind HARD BALL GET. Then passing the 400 Metres, FIRE AND GOLD and FORTUNATE RUNNER bumped as FIRE AND GOLD attempted to improve to the outside of HARD BALL GET. Passing the 300 Metres, FIRE AND GOLD raced in restricted room between HARD BALL GET and FORTUNATE RUNNER. Then near the 250 Metres, FIRE AND GOLD was steadied when crowded for room between HARD BALL GET which shifted out after being brushed by HAVE FUN TOGETHER and FORTUNATE RUNNER which, after shifting in of its own accord, then was taken in further by POLYMER LUCK which got its head on the side and shifted in abruptly away from RELENTLESS ME. In this incident POLYMER LUCK became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by FORTUNATE RUNNER which was also hampered and lost ground. After this incident, FIRE AND GOLD and FORTUNATE RUNNER were eased down. A veterinary inspection of FIRE AND GOLD immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. A veterinary inspection of FORTUNATE RUNNER 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, FORTUNATE RUNNER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Passing the 300 Metres, ADONIS, which was held up for clear running, was steadied and shifted out acutely from behind POLYMER LUCK to obtain clear running. RELENTLESS ME lost its left front plate approaching the 100 Metres. Near the 75 Metres, ADONIS was corrected by its rider after shifting inwards abruptly. Throughout the race, HARD BALL GET travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, U Rispoli stated that from the outside barrier he was instructed to ride EMERALD SPUR positively and obtain a forward position. He said whilst it had been hoped that the horse might be able to obtain a position with cover, it was felt that this would be difficult from its wide barrier and therefore he was asked to sit outside the lead if possible, however, if no other horse showed early speed, it was acceptable for him to make the running. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode EMERALD SPUR along in the early stages and the horse was able to obtain a forward position easily. He said he was able to discontinue riding EMERALD SPUR forward after the 1300 Metres as by that stage the horse had already established a prominent position outside the eventual leader LEISURED FEET and he was able to follow that horse across to race closer to the rail. He said EMERALD SPUR settled well in the early stages, however, in the middle stages got its head on the side and lay out which is unusual for the horse given that it had not shown any similar tendency in its previous races or in training. He added EMERALD SPUR became unbalanced after the 600 Metres after bumping with HARD BALL GET due to EMERALD SPUR laying out and the horse came under heavy pressure rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight. He said, despite being fully tested, EMERALD SPUR did not respond to his riding and was disappointing in that it did not finish off the race over the concluding stages. He added he did not attribute the disappointing performance to the fact that EMERALD SPUR was ridden in a forward position, rather he believed that the horse’s inclination to lay out indicated to him that the horse was not comfortable in the race. Mr P F Yiu, the trainer of EMERALD SPUR, said that from the wide barrier, with the rail being in the widest position, he had been unsure whether to ride EMERALD SPUR forward or from the rear. He said given that horses on the speed had raced well in the previous race, he therefore felt it might be advantageous to obtain a forward position as he was concerned that by steadying EMERALD SPUR in the early stages would result in the horse getting a long way out of its ground. He said he therefore elected to instruct Jockey Rispoli to ride EMERALD SPUR positively. He added having regard to the manner in which EMERALD SPUR raced, if he was to start the horse again this season, he would, depending on the programme, attempt to drop the horse back in distance to 1200 Metres which might suit it better if the horse were to be ridden more conservatively, but in a race with a solid tempo. A veterinary inspection of EMERALD SPUR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of HARD BALL GET immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. EMERALD SPUR, RELENTLESS ME and HAVE FUN TOGETHER were sent for sampling.