05/05/2019  Shatin  Race 9

After being placed in the barriers, FRIENDS OF NANJING reared on a number of occasions, resulting in H N Wong being dislodged. Acting on advice that H N Wong was not fit to ride after injuring his right foot when FRIENDS OF NANJING reared, FRIENDS OF NANJING was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, FRIENDS OF NANJING will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test. As the start was effected, DASHING DART became fractious and threw its head in the air, resulting in the horse losing a considerable amount of ground. After confirming that DASHING DART had not previously had an embargo placed upon it for similar behaviour, the Stewards ruled that the horse must undergo a satisfactory stalls test prior to being permitted to race again. SUNNY POWER and GOLDEN FOUR were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Approaching the 1400 Metres, SHANGHAI DRAGON shifted in and bumped CURLING LUXURY. Near the 1100 Metres, CHAPARRAL STAR was left racing wide and without cover. Making the turn after the 900 Metres, DOR DOR was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SMART ROCKET. Passing the 400 Metres, GARLIC YEAH was checked away from the heels of SIMPLE ELEGANT when attempting to improve to the outside of that horse and inside SMART ROCKET where there was insufficient room. GARLIC YEAH then had difficulty obtaining clear running until after the 250 Metres. Also passing the 400 Metres, DOR DOR shifted out and brushed the hindquarters of EZRA. Passing the 350 Metres, SUNNY POWER was directed to the outside of CURLING LUXURY to improve. Passing the 300 Metres, DOR DOR was shifted in away from the heels of CHAPARRAL STAR after being awkwardly placed inside that horse. After being shifted to the inside of CHAPARRAL STAR, that horse shifted in marginally, resulting in DOR DOR being hampered and directed to the outside of CHAPARRAL STAR approaching the 200 Metres. When improving into tight running between MCQUEEN and SIMPLE ELEGANT passing the 200 Metres, SUNNY POWER raced tight between those horses as SIMPLE ELEGANT was taken in by SMART ROCKET. SIMPLE ELEGANT was then awkwardly placed inside the heels of SMART ROCKET passing the 150 Metres. Approaching and passing the 100 Metres, MCQUEEN raced tight inside SUNNY POWER. Approaching the 100 Metres, DOR DOR shifted out abruptly under pressure, resulting in its rider having to stop riding and straighten his mount. After the race, U Rispoli stated that, in his opinion, the tempo of the race did not suit GOLDEN FOUR. He said, in his opinion, GOLDEN FOUR appreciates a more genuine speed which then allows it to finish off which it was not able to do in today’s race. Also after the race, it was noted that SHANGHAI DRAGON had swelling to the left shoulder region with compromised movement. Before being allowed to race again, SHANGHAI DRAGON will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of EZRA immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. A veterinary inspection of SIMPLE ELEGANT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of DASHING DART immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. EZRA, SMART ROCKET and SHANGHAI DRAGON were sent for sampling.