11/05/2019  Shatin  Race 5

HINYUEN SWIFTNESS was withdrawn on 10.5.19 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter STARLIT KNIGHT (M L Yeung). Before being allowed to race again, HINYUEN SWIFTNESS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. GENERAL TRUMP, which began only fairly, was crowded for room on jumping between STRATHBARRA and KING MORTAR which got its head on the side and shifted out. FAMILY LEADER shifted in at the start and was awkwardly placed outside the heels of STARLIT KNIGHT. BEAUTY LOYAL shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of NICE KICK. After this, despite being ridden along, BEAUTY LOYAL failed to muster speed. SPIRIT PATCH was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. IRON BRAVO lost its right front plate near the 1100 Metres. Approaching the 900 Metres, NICE KICK was left racing wide and without cover. Near the 850 Metres, BEAUTY LOYAL commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed behind of STRATHBARRA. Near the 600 Metres, BEAUTY LOYAL was steadied away from the heels of STRATHBARRA when attempting to improve into tight running between that horse and GENERAL TRUMP. Passing the 350 Metres, KING MORTAR got its head on the side and lay out and then after initially racing tight inside IRON BRAVO which shifted in marginally, KING MORTAR was steadied away from the heels of GENERAL TRUMP which, after being awkwardly placed behind STARLIT KNIGHT, was shifted to the outside of that horse. FAMILY LEADER, which was following KING MORTAR, was shifted in away from the heels of that horse, resulting in SPIRIT PATCH being momentarily hampered near the 250 Metres. Over the concluding stages, APPLAUSE raced tight inside the heels of VITAL SPRING. The performance of BLISSFUL EIGHT, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, BLISSFUL EIGHT will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, C Y Ho, the rider of VITAL SPRING, which throughout the race travelled wide and without cover, reported that his saddle slipped back in the early stages. Also after the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that NICE KICK had sustained an overreach wound to the outside of the right front heel. A veterinary inspection of STRATHBARRA and BLISSFUL EIGHT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of FAMILY LEADER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. ULTIMATE GLORY and NICE KICK were sent for sampling.