21/12/2019  Shatin  Race 9

As K C Leung was unable to fulfil the engagement on CORDYCEPS due to being overweight, H W Lai was substituted as the rider of that horse. K C Leung was fined $5,000. ENRICHMENT stumbled at the start. After travelling a short distance, HELENE LEADINGSTAR was hampered when tightened for room between HIGH REV and CORDYCEPS which lay out away from CLASSIC BEAUTY which shifted out. From wide barriers, GLORIOUS DRAGON and SAVVY SIX as well as NOT USUAL TALENT and RED WARRIOR were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. At the 1500 Metres, TIANCHI MONSTER raced tight inside CHEFANO. RIGHT CHOICE travelled wide and without cover until the 1200 Metres where it was shifted across to race outside the lead. In the early part of the Straight, RED WARRIOR and GLORIOUS DRAGON raced tight. Leaving the 400 Metres, CHEFANO shifted in and brushed TIANCHI MONSTER. Passing the 300 Metres, HIGH REV (M F Poon) hung in when placed under pressure, resulting in CORDYCEPS and HELENE LEADINGSTAR both being hampered and placed in restricted racing room. M F Poon was reprimanded and advised that in similar circumstances he would be expected to make a greater effort to straighten his mount than he did on this occasion. For a short distance approaching the 250 Metres, GLORIOUS DRAGON was held up for a run between HIGH REV and TIANCHI MONSTER. Passing the 200 Metres, RED WARRIOR was disappointed for a run to the inside of INSAYSHABLE which shifted in. For some distance after the 200 Metres, SAVVY SIX (H T Mo) shifted out under pressure before being corrected near the 100 Metres. Then over the final 50 Metres, SAVVY SIX again shifted out under pressure, causing ENRICHMENT to be inconvenienced when forced out. H T Mo was severely reprimanded and advised that he should have stopped riding and straightened SAVVY SIX rather than persist in using the whip over the latter stages of the race. Approaching and passing the 100 Metres, HELENE LEADINGSTAR momentarily raced tight inside HIGH REV which shifted in before being corrected. A veterinary inspection of CLASSIC BEAUTY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GLORIOUS DRAGON and CHEFANO were sent for sampling.