23/11/2019  Shatin  Race 6

M F Poon (COPARTNER RAPPORT) was fined $2,000 for presenting himself to be weighed out with the incorrect saddle cloth number. NITRO EXPRESS, which bumped a rail on the way to the Start, was examined by the Veterinary Officer on arrival at the barriers and passed suitable to race. JOYFUL HEART began awkwardly. VEGA RHYTHM shifted out abruptly at the start, resulting in CIRCUIT HASSLER (L Hewitson) and GOLDEN FOUR being crowded for room inside DESTIN which became unbalanced when bumped by GOLDEN FOUR and shifting out towards the heels of LOOK ERAS. After the race, L Hewitson reported that after being crowded for room on jumping, CIRCUIT HASSLER did not show as much early speed as anticipated and he had to ride his horse along for a considerable distance in an attempt to obtain a forward position. He said, despite riding CIRCUIT HASSLER along, the horse was reluctant to improve its position and travelled wide and without cover throughout the race further back in the field than had been anticipated and consequently did not finish off the race. From wide barriers, GOLDEN FOUR, DESTIN, COPARTNER RAPPORT and FUN TIMES were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 600 Metres, DESTIN raced in restricted room between NITRO EXPRESS and JOYFUL HEART. Approaching the 500 Metres, JOYFUL HEART lay in towards the heels of SUPER ALLIANCES which was improving around the heels of CIRCUIT HASSLER, resulting in DESTIN momentarily racing tight outside NITRO EXPRESS. DESTIN and JOYFUL HEART then made contact rounding the Home Turn as DESTIN attempted to improve to the outside of SUPER ALLIANCES and to the inside of JOYFUL HEART. DESTIN was then held up for clear running behind SUPER ALLIANCES, shifted out and bumped JOYFUL HEART approaching the 300 Metres when attempting to improve between SUPER ALLIANCES and JOYFUL HEART. DESTIN was steadied passing the 300 Metres when unable to proceed between SUPER ALLIANCES and JOYFUL HEART, both of which shifted a minimal amount of ground. DESTIN remained held up for clear running until near the 200 Metres. Near the 550 Metres, LOOK ERAS became unbalanced after being bumped by SPRINT FORWARD (A Sanna) which improved into tight running to the outside of SIMPLE ELEGANT. A Sanna was advised to exercise due care in similar circumstances. The performance of LOOK ERAS, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, LOOK ERAS 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 reported that ABSOLUCOOL did not travel comfortably at any stage of the race and he had to continually niggle at the horse to maintain its position. He said in the Straight ABSOLUCOOL did not finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of ABSOLUCOOL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SUPER ALLIANCES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings, however, the horse was unable to be scoped due to being fractious. SIMPLE ELEGANT and GOLDEN FOUR were sent for sampling.