23/02/2020  Shatin  Race 10

SUPER FAST shifted in at the start and made contact with the hindquarters of TOP MILITARY. LIGHT MY DAY and MONICA bumped at the start. Shortly after the start, ENZEMBLE raced tight between GO BALLISTIC and MR ALDAN which was racing tight inside the heels of COBY BA. After this, GO BALLISTIC and MR ALDAN were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 1400 Metres, SMART PATCH was steadied away from the heels of ENZEMBLE (G van Niekerk) which shifted in when not properly clear. G van Niekerk was severely reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground. Passing the 900 Metres, COBY BA was left racing wide and without cover. SUPER ELEGANCE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of TOP MILITARY passing the 500 Metres. SUPER FAST was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn and in the Straight until near the 300 Metres. Near the 350 Metres, COBY BA shifted out and bumped ENZEMBLE. SMART PATCH was held up for clear running approaching and passing the 300 Metres. The performance of ARCATRAZ and LIGHT MY DAY, both of which finished tailed out, were considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ARCATRAZ and LIGHT MY DAY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, A Badel stated that he was not given any specific instructions on how to ride SMART PATCH due to having drawn awkwardly in barrier 9. He said SMART PATCH began well but he did not believe that the horse would show sufficient pace to be able to clear MONICA which was drawn immediately to his inside and then horses which were drawn inside MONICA and which were being ridden to obtain a forward position. He said he therefore elected to shift SMART PATCH across with a view to following MONICA in the run. He said after being hampered near the 1400 Metres SMART PATCH was required to race further back in the field than he had anticipated. He added however that he was of the belief that had he have ridden SMART PATCH along in the early stages in an attempt to obtain a prominent position, due to the circumstances of the race, the horse may have been left racing wide and possibly without cover. MR ALDAN and MONICA were sent for sampling.