05/05/2019  Shatin  Race 11

MONKEY JEWELLERY was withdrawn on 4.5.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame right fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FOCUS (K C Leung). Before being allowed to race again, MONKEY JEWELLERY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. As the start was effected, EIGHT TRIGRAMS reared abruptly and struck its head with force on the overhead structure, resulting in the horse losing a considerable amount of ground. A veterinary inspection of EIGHT TRIGRAMS immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, EIGHT TRIGRAMS will be required to perform satisfactorily in a stalls test and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FOCUS began awkwardly and then shortly after the start was bumped by RED BRICK FIGHTER. FREE VIEW began awkwardly. From a wide barrier, VICTORY SONG was steadied in the early stages. At the entrance to the Straight SILVER FIG and DIGITAL TRIUMPH raced tight as SILVER FIG improved into tight running between DIGITAL TRIUMPH and CALLING THE SHOTS. Approaching the 300 Metres, FOCUS and THE CREATETH raced tight as THE CREATETH shifted out. After the 200 Metres, ROMAN ODYSSEY was awkwardly placed inside the heels of YICHUN BLITZ which shifted in. Close to the finishing line, THE CREATETH was crowded for room between YICHUN BLITZ (C Schofield) and CALLING THE SHOTS (A Domeyer), both of which shifted a minimal amount of ground. C Schofield and A Domeyer were told to ensure that they make every endeavour to prevent their mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances. Because of this, THE CREATETH was not able to be tested over the concluding stages. Throughout the race, DIGITAL TRIUMPH and CALLING THE SHOTS travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of PRINCE OF GEMS, Z Purton stated that his mount was fractious in the barriers and because of this began only fairly. He said PRINCE OF GEMS was able to recover from the poor start and obtain a good position behind the speed. He said his mount travelled well in the middle stages, however, in the early part of the Straight came under pressure and then did not finish off the race as well as expected. He added when PRINCE OF GEMS was successful at its first start and in its barrier trials leading up to that race, the horse had either led or sat outside the lead and he therefore recommended to connections that they consider stepping the horse up in distance at its next start and obtaining the lead if possible as the horse may not have appreciated racing in amongst other runners at this early stage of its career. A veterinary inspection of PRINCE OF GEMS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PRINCE OF GEMS, SILVER FIG and YICHUN BLITZ were sent for sampling.