01/03/2020  Shatin  Race 4

On arrival at the Start, the tongue tie applied to CHARITY GRAND was replaced. SO AWESOME lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and consequently lost ground. SPICY GRILL shifted out at the start and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of COOL ACE. DOUBLE TAKE was crowded for room on jumping between CHARITY GRAND and XPONENTIAL which shifted out. BRAVE BABY shifted out at the start and bumped SPONTANEOUS. A short distance after the start, SPONTANEOUS shifted in and brushed the hindquarters of BRAVE BABY which became unbalanced and shifted out, resulting in SPONTANEOUS being taken out onto LEADING FORTUNE. After this, from the outside barriers, SPONTANEOUS and LEADING FORTUNE were steadied to obtain cover. SPONTANEOUS lost its right front plate in the early stages. SO AWESOME travelled keenly approaching and passing the 1000 Metres and making the first turn near the 900 Metres got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of SPONTANEOUS. When racing wide making the turn after the 900 Metres, BELUGA was steadied to obtain cover behind SUPER EIGHTEEN. SO AWESOME lay out making the turns after the 700 Metres. SPICY GRILL had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Approaching the 300 Metres, BABY STORM momentarily raced in restricted room between DOUBLE TAKE and SPICY GRILL which lay out towards the heels of COOL ACE. BABY STORM then had some difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 300 Metres and after the 250 Metres got its head on the side and lay out. BABY STORM continued to be held up for a run near the 150 Metres and after the 100 Metres was directed to the outside of DOUBLE TAKE to obtain clear running. LEADING FORTUNE had some difficulty obtaining clear running after the 300 Metres. Close to the finishing line, COOL ACE raced in restricted room between SUPER EIGHTEEN which lay in and LEADING FORTUNE which improved to the outside of SPICY GRILL. DOUBLE TAKE lay in under pressure in the Straight and proved difficult to ride. Throughout the race, SUPER EIGHTEEN travelled wide and without cover. After the race, K Teetan reported that COOL ACE travelled well throughout the early and middle stages, however, came under pressure rounding the Home Turn and then did not quicken as he anticipated. He said he continued to ride COOL ACE out, however, the horse gave ground noticeably over the final 200 Metres to finish at the rear of the field. He said after the race COOL ACE’s action appeared to be sound and he was unable to offer any explanation for its disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of COOL ACE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ETERNAL HARVEST and BELUGA were sent for sampling.