07/02/2019  Shatin  Race 6

As the start was effected, SPLENDOUR AND GOLD lifted its front feet off the ground and consequently began only fairly. SUREWIN was slow to begin. BINGO HERO began awkwardly and lost ground. From wide barriers, REGENCY GEM and TEST THE STARS were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. Near the 1150 Metres, MARVEL JOY got its head up and became unbalanced. Approaching the 900 Metres, FLAME LILY commenced to prove very difficult to settle and was checked away from the heels of MR DARTHVEGAR. BEAUTY ENERGY, which was following FLAME LILY, got its head up when being steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence and then making the turn near the 900 Metres got its head on the side and lay out when continuing to travel keenly. After the 900 Metres, REGENCY GEM was left racing wide and without cover and then rounding the Home Turn got its head on the side and lay out. At the entrance to the Straight, SPLENDOUR AND GOLD and MR DARTHVEGAR raced tight as SPLENDOUR AND GOLD shifted out to obtain clear running. Near the 350 Metres, MARVEL JOY was momentarily awkwardly placed outside the heels of WIN WIN which shifted to the outside of CARE FREE PRINCE to obtain clear running. Then near the 300 Metres, WIN WIN shifted out and bumped SUPREME WITNESS. Passing the 350 Metres, REGENCY GEM was steadied away from the heels of FLAME LILY which got its head on the side and shifted out and away from BINGO HERO after being brushed by that horse which in the early part of the Straight had difficulty obtaining clear running. After the race, Z Purton stated that it was intended for BEAUTY ENERGY to be in a reasonably prominent position from barrier 5, however, the horse began only fairly. He said after proving difficult to settle and being very awkwardly placed close to the heels of other runners in the middle stages due to the tempo of the race, BEAUTY ENERGY then closed off only one-paced and was disappointing. A veterinary inspection of BEAUTY ENERGY immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. When questioned, S de Sousa (PEARL CHAMPION) stated that from the wide barrier he was asked to attempt to obtain a position in about midfield with cover as the horse had previously finished off its races strongly when ridden from off the speed. He said however that PEARL CHAMPION began best in today’s race and he felt that he would have had to heavily restrain the horse to obtain a midfield position. He said he therefore elected to obtain a position forward of midfield in the early stages in the hope that the horse would be able to obtain cover. He said approaching the 1300 Metres he believed he was going to obtain a trailing position behind MR DARTHVEGAR, however, FLAME LILY, which was drawn inside PEARL CHAMPION, was able to obtain that position and this resulted in PEARL CHAMPION being left racing wide and without cover in the early stages. He said having regard to the manner in which PEARL CHAMPION began and its forward showing after the 1200 Metres, he did not believe it was available to him then to steady his mount and consequently PEARL CHAMPION was required to race in a much forward position than had been anticipated and without cover. A veterinary inspection of PEARL CHAMPION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SPLENDOUR AND GOLD and WIN WIN were sent for sampling.