02/03/2019  Shatin  Race 5

CRAIG’S STAR was bumped on jumping by E STAR which in turn was bumped by YEE CHEONG LUCKY. From wide barriers, HAPPY ALUMNI and HAPPY BOYBOY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. At the 800 Metres, PRINCE OF GEMS (Z Purton) commenced to travel keenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of BULLISH BROTHER (M F Poon) which, after obtaining the lead, was then steadied by its rider. PRINCE OF GEMS was then awkwardly placed behind BULLISH BROTHER for a short distance. M F Poon was told whilst the Stewards accepted that he did not restrain his mount at this time, nonetheless he was reprimanded and advised that he should have made more of an effort to prevent the tempo of the race reducing at that stage which made it awkward for PRINCE OF GEMS which was following BULLISH BROTHER. The Stewards also accepted the evidence of Z Purton that his mount’s racing manners had played a part in this incident. After the 700 Metres, SUPER EIGHTEEN was left racing wide and without cover and then in the Straight gave ground. After the race, A Sanna expressed concern regarding the action of SUPER EIGHTEEN as the horse did not feel comfortable throughout the race. A veterinary inspection of SUPER EIGHTEEN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, SUPER EIGHTEEN will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Passing the 500 Metres, YICHUN BLITZ was steadied away from the heels of CRAIG’S STAR. YICHUN BLITZ was then held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight. Approaching the 300 Metres, PRINCE OF GEMS was checked when attempting to improve between BULLISH BROTHER and BEAUTY APPLAUSE where there was insufficient room. When attempting to improve between those horses, PRINCE OF GEMS bumped the hindquarters of BEAUTY APPLAUSE which became unbalanced, TRAVEL SUCCESSOR, which was following PRINCE OF GEMS, was shifted to the inside of that horse in consequence. Near the 300 Metres, SUPER EIGHTEEN was bumped by YICHUN BLITZ which was awkwardly placed outside the heels of CRAIG’S STAR when improving into tight running between those horses. Near the 250 Metres, J Moreira (BEAUTY APPLAUSE) momentarily dropped his right rein. Near the 150 Metres, HAPPY ALUMNI raced in restricted room between EMPIRE OF PATCH and CRAIG’S STAR when improving into tight running between those horses. In this incident, EMPIRE OF PATCH became unbalanced after being brushed on the hindquarters by HAPPY ALUMNI. TRAVEL SUCCESSOR had difficulty obtaining clear running over the concluding stages and consequently was not ridden out all the way to the end of the race. Close to the finishing line, PRINCE OF GEMS raced tight inside EMPIRE OF PATCH which was steadied when crowded for room inside HAPPY ALUMNI which, when improving into tight running inside CRAIG’S STAR (S de Sousa), was taken in by that horse. S de Sousa was reprimanded and advised to make every endeavour to keep his mounts straight. A veterinary inspection of PRINCE OF GEMS and EMPIRE OF PATCH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PRINCE OF GEMS, E STAR and CRAIG’S STAR were sent for sampling.