12/01/2019  Shatin  Race 6

GRAND HARBOUR shifted out at the start and bumped HOLY UNICORN. Shortly after the start, GOOD FIT and ENFOLDING bumped. After travelling a short distance, SUNSHINE UNIVERSE shifted in and bumped QUICK RETURN. From wide barriers, SHAMPORT and RADIANT BUNNY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 1000 Metres, QUICK RETURN was bumped and taken wider by ENFOLDING which got its head on the side and shifted out marginally. After this, QUICK RETURN was left racing wide and without cover. After the 1000 Metres, ENORMOUS HONOUR was awkwardly placed close to the heels of ART OF RAW. Approaching the 100 Metres, GOOD FIT (K Teetan) shifted in and bumped QUICK RETURN, causing both horses to become unbalanced and K Teetan to momentarily drop his right rein. Passing the 100 Metres, QUICK RETURN was awkwardly placed outside ENFOLDING which shifted out under pressure. For the majority of the race, HOLY UNICORN travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the performance of REMARKABLE, J Moreira stated that when racing amongst horses after the 700 Metres, he had to ride his mount along as it was having difficulty maintaining its position. He said he continued to ride REMARKABLE along approaching and rounding the Home Turn, however, the horse did not quicken as he expected it would. He added near the 350 Metres REMARKABLE had to be severely checked away from the heels of SUPERIOR BOY which gave ground abruptly and after this REMARKABLE did not recover. He added whilst the check to REMARKABLE was one of some significance, nonetheless the horse was not travelling well enough at this time and he did not believe that REMARKABLE was going to finish off the race strongly irrespective of the interference. A veterinary inspection of REMARKABLE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the performance of SUPERIOR BOY, S de Sousa stated that whilst he had to make some use of the horse in the early stages to obtain a forward position from a wide barrier, he was able to commence to steady his mount making the first turn after passing the winning post on the first occasion. He said after this SUPERIOR BOY travelled only fairly and passing the 1200 Metres he allowed GRAND HARBOUR to take the lead and subsequently shifted to the outside of that horse. He said SUPERIOR BOY came under pressure after the 800 Metres and he then rode the horse hard approaching the 600 Metres as it was not responding to his riding. He added, despite being hard ridden rounding the Home Turn, SUPERIOR BOY commenced to come under heavy pressure and gave ground noticeably at the entrance to the Straight. He added after this SUPERIOR BOY weakened badly and finished tailed out. He said he was not able to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of SUPERIOR BOY. Trainer W Y So was also unable to offer any explanation for the poor performance of SUPERIOR BOY. He said, as usual, the horse was ridden to obtain a forward position, but he did not believe that it had to be unduly pressured to do so. He said SUPERIOR BOY had worked well in the lead up to today’s race and a forward showing was anticipated. He added whilst SUPERIOR BOY appeared somewhat tight in its action after the race, he did not believe that this was sufficient to explain the horse’s disappointing run. The performance of SUPERIOR BOY was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SUPERIOR BOY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of SUPERIOR BOY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of CHATER THUNDER and GRAND HARBOUR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. REMARKABLE, HOLY UNICORN and GOOD FIT were sent for sampling.