15/09/2019  Shatin  Race 4

KWAI CHUNG ELITE began awkwardly. LIVERBIRD STAR shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of HARBOUR CENTURY, causing both horses to become unbalanced. WHAMPOA STAR and VITAL SPRING bumped at the start. After this, WHAMPOA STAR was steadied to obtain cover. After the 900 Metres, CAPTAIN BOSS, BIG BULLY and JOY MASTER were all steadied when the tempo slackened. CHATER THUNDER, SOCCER MASTER, FIRE AND GOLD and FRIENDS OF NANJING were all inconvenienced in consequence. Both H W Lai (KING MORTAR) and K C Leung (HARBOUR CENTURY) were reprimanded and reminded of their obligation to ensure that they do not reduce the tempo such that it results in horses back in the field being unnecessarily hampered. For some distance after this point, CAPTAIN BOSS continued to prove very difficult to settle and was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of FLYING NOBLE. After the 1100 Metres, LIVERBIRD STAR was left racing wide and without cover. When being steadied in the lead approaching and passing the 800 Metres, KING MORTAR lay out. After the 600 Metres and rounding the Home Turn, HARBOUR CENTURY got its head on the side and lay out. After the 200 Metres, KWAI CHUNG ELITE raced tight inside LIVERBIRD STAR which was crowded for room inside BIG BULLY (N Callan) which shifted in under pressure. N Callan was reprimanded. After the race, the Veterinary Surgeon reported that CAPTAIN BOSS had bled from its left nostril and had also sustained a minor wound to the left front coronary band. An endoscopic examination of CAPTAIN BOSS confirmed the horse to be an official bleeder. A veterinary inspection of LIVERBIRD STAR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CAPTAIN BOSS, VITAL SPRING and BIG BULLY were sent for sampling.