18/11/2018  Shatin  Race 10

Prior to the declaration of weighed-in, Mr A Speechley, the Starter, notified the Stewards that he had been made aware that the starting lights positioned on the Starter’s stand to alert jockeys that the race is about to begin did not operate. After viewing the video and after no rider expressed concern that his mount had been afforded an unfair start as a result of the starting lights not functioning, the Stewards considered that all horses had been afforded a fair start and accordingly weighed-in was notified. ROUNDABOUT got its head up on jumping and began awkwardly. VILLA FIONN began only fairly. From wide barriers, INCREDIBLE, SEVENTY SEVENTY and SMART BOY were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. VIVA COUNCIL lay out rounding the Home Turn. Passing the 150 Metres, VILLA FIONN was checked away from the heels of COMFORT LIFE which shifted ground when being eased down. Throughout the race, SMART LEADER travelled wide and without cover and then making the Home Turn got its head on the side and lay out and passing the 400 Metres N Callan dropped his left rein. SMART LEADER then gave ground in the Straight. After the race, Z Purton stated that COMFORT LIFE hung out badly and in particular in the Straight. He said COMFORT LIFE commenced to give ground from the 200 Metres, however, he was unable to ride the horse out due to the manner in which it was racing. The racing manners and performance of COMFORT LIFE were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, COMFORT LIFE will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial around a bend and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of COMFORT LIFE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NOBLE STEED and NICCONI EXPRESS were sent for sampling.