16/06/2019  Shatin  Race 10

NEW ELEGANCE began awkwardly and lost ground. MARZOUQ began only fairly. After being bumped by SUPER ELEGANCE at the start, CHAMPION SUPREME then shifted out and made contact with PIKACHU which was hampered. From wide barriers, RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE and SPLENDOUR AND GOLD were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. At the 1500 Metres, JIMMU was left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 1400 Metres, CHAMPION SUPREME was checked away from the heels of SPLENDOUR AND GOLD which got its head up and raced ungenerously when being steadied. NEW ELEGANCE which was following CHAMPION SUPREME, was hampered in consequence. After passing the 1000 Metres, GENERAL SHERMAN got its head up and raced ungenerously. After improving to be racing inside the heels of SPLENDOUR AND GOLD at the 950 Metres, CHAMPION SUPREME then raced tight and was bumped by PIKACHU which shifted out slightly on the turn near the 900 Metres. NEW ELEGANCE, which was following CHAMPION SUPREME, was again checked in consequence. At the 750 Metres, GENERAL SHERMAN got its head up when momentarily awkwardly placed behind SUPER ELEGANCE. Approaching the 500 Metres, SPLENDOUR AND GOLD momentarily raced tight between NEW ELEGANCE and SUPER ELEGANCE which was taken out by EVER LAUGH which shifted out from behind GIANT TURTLE to improve. At the 350 Metres, SUPER ELEGANCE shifted in and bumped the hindquarters of EVER LAUGH, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. The Stewards inquired into an incident near the 200 Metres where MARZOUQ was checked. It was established that approaching the 200 Metres AMAZING LUCK (M L Yeung) shifted to the outside of GIANT TURTLE into tight running between that horse and MARZOUQ and a short distance later MARZOUQ was checked due to EVER LAUGH (K C Leung) shifting in marginally away from SUPER ELEGANCE. M L Yeung and K C Leung were advised that whilst it was evident that the interference to MARZOUQ had been caused by marginal shifts from their respective mounts, nonetheless in similar circumstances they would be expected to exercise more care and endeavour to avoid causing interference. After being directed out by VIGOR FAME (M F Poon) near the 150 Metres, GIANT TURTLE shifted out further and made contact with AMAZING LUCK which was racing tight to its outside. At the same time, AMAZING LUCK received contact on the hindquarters from EVER LAUGH which, when racing to its outside, was awkwardly placed inside the heels of SUPER ELEGANCE. As a result of contact from both GIANT TURTLE and EVER LAUGH, AMAZING LUCK became unbalanced and shifted out, resulting in EVER LAUGH being checked when taken out across the heels of SUPER ELEGANCE. Whilst there were a number of circumstances associated with this incident and no rider was deemed to have exhibited a degree of carelessness which warranted a charge under the Rules, M F Poon was reminded of his responsibility to straighten his mounts in a timely fashion when they shift ground. M L Yeung was also told that in similar circumstances when racing tight, he should not be intent on using the whip but rather should make more of an effort to keep his mounts straight. When EVER LAUGH was checked, GENERAL SHERMAN became awkward on the heels of that horse and was obliged to shift out accordingly. EVER LAUGH continued to shift out and hampered CHAMPION SUPREME approaching the finishing line. When questioned, Z Purton stated that CHAMPION SUPREME did not muster speed in the early stages and settled further back in the field than had been intended. He said after being awkwardly placed on the heels of SPLENDOUR AND GOLD along the Back Straight, CHAMPION SUPREME then settled well and travelled satisfactorily in the middle stages. He said however that after following SUPER ELEGANCE into the Straight and being brought to the outside of that horse to produce a finishing run, CHAMPION SUPREME did not let down as he anticipated, was one-paced and, in his opinion, disappointing. A veterinary inspection of CHAMPION SUPREME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of MARZOUQ, SPLENDOUR AND GOLD and GENERAL SHERMAN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CHAMPION SUPREME, VIGOR FAME and SUPER ELEGANCE were sent for sampling.