22/09/2018  Shatin  Race 3

Whilst in the saddling stalls, TOUCHDOWN STRIKER had its left front plate replaced. TOUCHDOWN STRIKER was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. FOLLOW ME began awkwardly and bumped MONEYMORE. ALPHA HEDGE began awkwardly and inconvenienced KHAKI. EMERALD SPUR was crowded for room on jumping between NORDIC WARRIOR and YEE CHEONG PEGASUS which shifted out. TOUCHDOWN STRIKER lost its left front plate shortly after the start. From the outside barrier, PRECIOUS SWEETIE was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Also from a wide barrier, NORDIC WARRIOR was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover in the early stages. TOUCHDOWN STRIKER travelled keenly in the early stages. MONEYMORE proved difficult to settle in the early stages and near the 950 Metres shifted out and hampered EMERALD SPUR. Passing the 900 Metres, NORDIC WARRIOR was awkwardly placed close to the heels of EMERALD SPUR. Making the turn near the 850 Metres, REGENCY DARLING shifted out and brushed the hindquarters of TOUCHDOWN STRIKER. Approaching the 800 Metres, EMERALD SPUR got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of MONEYMORE. Passing the 750 Metres, REGENCY DARLING shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of BURST AWAY (D Whyte) which, after reaching the lead, was then steadied by its rider. D Whyte was warned against the practice of steadying the tempo too abruptly. Approaching the 600 Metres, EMERALD SPUR, which was travelling keenly, became badly unbalanced when bumped by NORDIC WARRIOR which, when improving to the outside of KHAKI, was then taken out by that horse which shifted out, causing NORDIC WARRIOR to also become badly unbalanced. In this incident, EMERALD SPUR bumped the hindquarters of ALPHA HEDGE which became unbalanced. After the 600 Metres, JUMBO BUS raced in restricted room outside the hindquarters of REGENCY DARLING which got its head on the side and lay out. PRECIOUS SWEETIE was held up for a run in the early part of the Straight and after the 300 Metres was shifted to the inside of JUMBO BUS to obtain clear running. FRIENDS OF NANJING had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. After the 400 Metres, NORDIC WARRIOR, which was attempting to improve into tight running between KHAKI and MONEYMORE, was shifted away from the heels of KHAKI as that horse was taken out by FOLLOW ME which improved into tight running between KHAKI and YEE CHEONG PEGASUS. As the Stewards were satisfied that NORDIC WARRIOR had not established running to the outside of KHAKI, no further action was taken. Throughout the race, LOOKING GOOD and YEE CHEONG PEGASUS travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. A veterinary inspection of YEE CHEONG PEGASUS immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. When questioned regarding the performance of EMERALD SPUR, K C Leung stated that after being shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover, EMERALD SPUR travelled too keenly in the early and middle stages and would not relax. He said EMERALD SPUR was very awkwardly placed behind MONEYMORE throughout the early and middle stages which resulted in the horse not being able to be properly balanced. He said after becoming badly unbalanced near the 600 Metres, he shifted EMERALD SPUR to the outside of MONEYMORE rounding the Home Turn, however, the horse did not quicken in the early part of the Straight and then finished off the race only one-paced. He added whilst EMERALD SPUR may have appeared disappointing in today’s race, he believed the manner in which the horse travelled and the circumstances of the race resulted in EMERALD SPUR not being able to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of EMERALD SPUR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of LOOKING GOOD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. EMERALD SPUR, REGENCY DARLING and PRECIOUS SWEETIE were sent for sampling.