24/03/2019  Shatin  Race 1

WONDERFUL TIGER began only fairly. From wide barriers, BIG BULLY and SUREWIN were steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. When being steadied in the early stages to obtain cover, GOBI STORM got its head up on a number of occasions. When being steadied to obtain cover near the 1100 Metres, TRIUMPHANT LIGHT got its head up and travelled keenly, resulting in the horse being unable to obtain a trailing position behind RUN MOOCHI passing the 1100 Metres. When TRIUMPHANT LIGHT proved difficult to settle, WINNING CIRCLE (N Callan), which was racing outside that horse, was checked away from the heels of TRIUMPHANT LIGHT when also attempting to obtain cover behind that horse. ADONIS, which was following WINNING CIRCLE, was hampered in consequence. In this incident, WINNING CIRCLE shifted out, resulting in BEST EFFORT getting its head on the side and shifting out away from that horse. After the race, N Callan reported that in this incident he felt as though WINNING CIRCLE had been galloped on as the horse lay out for the remainder of the race and did not stretch out comfortably. A veterinary inspection of WINNING CIRCLE immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a cut to the inside of the left hind heel. Passing the 400 Metres, TRIUMPHANT LIGHT was momentarily shifted out away from the heels of FLYING NOBLE which shifted out. Near the 50 Metres, ROYAL PREROGATIVE was steadied away from the heels of RUN MOOCHI which shifted in away from FLYING NOBLE. A Sanna (AMBITIOUS SPEEDY) was fined the sum of $5,000 for using the whip in the forehand manner down the horse’s shoulder on a number of occasions rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight. In arriving at this decision, the Stewards took into consideration that they had previously spoken to Jockey Sanna for using his whip in this manner. When questioned, Trainer T P Yung stated that as GOBI STORM had not been finishing off its races when ridden in a forward position, it was decided, from a wide barrier today, to ride the horse more conservatively to see if GOBI STORM would find the line when ridden in this manner. He said as he was satisfied with the manner in which GOBI STORM finished off the race, it would be his intention, where circumstances permit, to ride the horse with cover behind the speed in its future races. When questioned regarding the performance of TRIUMPHANT LIGHT, Z Purton stated that after travelling wide and without cover throughout the race, TRIUMPHANT LIGHT came under pressure prior to the 600 Metres. He said despite being ridden along rounding the Home Turn, TRIUMPHANT LIGHT commenced to give ground in the early part of the Straight and shifted ground on a number of occasions. He said as the horse was well beaten, he did not persist in riding it out all the way to the end of the race. Whilst the Stewards accepted that TRIUMPHANT LIGHT was giving ground in the early part of the Straight, Z Purton was reminded of his obligation to continue to ride his mount along in at least a hands and heels fashion to the end of the race in the appropriate circumstances. A veterinary inspection of TRIUMPHANT LIGHT immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a cut to the lip. The performance of TRIUMPHANT LIGHT, favourite for today’s race, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, TRIUMPHANT LIGHT 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 ROYAL PREROGATIVE and BEST EFFORT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TRIUMPHANT LIGHT, RUMINARE and FLYING NOBLE were sent for sampling.