11/01/2020  Shatin  Race 7

J Moreira (TRIPLE TRIPLE) was fined the sum of $2,000 for initially presenting himself to weigh out in the incorrect colours. YES WE CAN shifted out at the start and bumped JUNZI. KING’S TROOPER and TRIPLE TRIPLE brushed at the start. SHADOW BREAKER and XPONENTIAL were crowded for room on jumping between CIRCUIT HASSLER and SPLENDID TIMING which shifted in. This resulted in SHADOW BREAKER bumping the hindquarters of CIRCUIT HASSLER which became badly unbalanced and shifted out abruptly, causing further tightening to SHADOW BREAKER. SPRINT FORWARD began awkwardly. From wide barriers, SHADOW BREAKER, XPONENTIAL, SPLENDID TIMING and WILLFUL were all shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Approaching the 1300 Metres, KING’S TROOPER improved to be racing close to the heels of TRIPLE TRIPLE, resulting in KING’S TROOPER being awkwardly placed behind that horse and shifting in which caused inconvenience to GOLDEN FOUR and JUNZI. Near the 1200 Metres, SHADOW BREAKER shifted out, resulting in XPONENTIAL being taken out onto SPLENDID TIMING, causing those horses to be hampered. After the 1000 Metres, XPONENTIAL shifted out away from the heels of BABY STORM and bumped SPLENDID TIMING. After this, XPONENTIAL and SPLENDID TIMING raced tight. After the 900 Metres, CIRCUIT HASSLER was left racing wide and without cover. Near the 350 Metres, XPONENTIAL was disappointed for running between SPLENDID TIMING and BABY STORM which got its head on the side and shifted out marginally away from JUNZI. In this incident, SPLENDID TIMING became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by XPONENTIAL. As the Stewards were satisfied that XPONENTIAL had not established running to the outside of BABY STORM, no further action was taken. After this, BABY STORM was shifted out away from the heels of SHADOW BREAKER to obtain clear running. Near the 50 Metres, the whip of S de Sousa (SPRINT FORWARD) was knocked from this grasp by the whip of B Shinn (GOLDEN FOUR). When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of XPONENTIAL, K Teetan stated that in the early stages he shifted his mount across behind runners from the wide barrier as instructed. He said XPONENTIAL travelled well, however, after becoming unbalanced when racing tight with SPLENDID TIMING near the 900 Metres, the horse did not travel comfortably in the middle stages. He said as he was instructed to shift his mount to the outside in the Straight to obtain clear running, he attempted to improve to the outside of BABY STORM at the entrance to the Straight, however, was required to alter course to the inside of that horse when unable to improve between BABY STORM and SPLENDID TIMING. He added after shifting to the inside of BABY STORM, he was able to obtain clear running, however, XPONENTIAL did not quicken and finished off the race only one-paced. He said although XPONENTIAL was disappointing, he believed that there were circumstances which might account for the horse’s failure to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of XPONENTIAL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of XPONENTIAL, favourite for today’s race and a last start winner, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, XPONENTIAL 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, an endoscopic examination was conducted on KING’S TROOPER at the request of Trainer P F Yiu. The Veterinary Surgeon reported that this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, KING’S TROOPER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of SPLENDID TIMING and WILLFUL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. XPONENTIAL, GOLDEN FOUR and TRIPLE TRIPLE were sent for sampling.