05/04/2020  Shatin  Race 8

WELL DRAGON was crowded for room on jumping between EL JEFE and SPEEDY LUCK, both of which shifted ground. In this incident, EL JEFE and SPEEDY LUCK also bumped. DAILY BEAUTY was bumped at the start by BRAVE BABY which, after beginning awkwardly, was taken out by MULTIMAX. After this, DAILY BEAUTY was shifted across behind runners from the outside barrier. Also from a wide barrier, EPTIWINS was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Approaching the 900 Metres, DUBLIN STAR was steadied away from the heels of SO WE JOY which was steadied away from the heels of HAPPY TANGO (C Schofield) which shifted in when not properly clear. When DUBLIN STAR was steadied in this incident, it shifted in and was awkwardly placed outside the heels of THIS IS CHARISMA. C Schofield was reprimanded and advised to ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground in similar circumstances. After the 300 Metres, EL JEFE (Z Purton) got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of THIS IS CHARISMA and near the 250 Metres became unbalanced after bumping with THIS IS CHARISMA which also shifted in marginally. EL JEFE again shifted out near the 200 Metres and bumped THIS IS CHARISMA which was taken in by MULTIMAX which, after initially being taken in marginally by HAPPY TANGO, then got its head on the side and shifted in away from that horse. This resulted in both THIS IS CHARISMA and EL JEFE becoming badly unbalanced and EL JEFE losing ground when crowded for room outside TAILOR MADE. The Stewards were satisfied that there was no rider carelessness involved in this incident. Z Purton stated that EL JEFE lay out rounding the Home Turn and then continued to lay out in the Straight. He said at the time that his mount encountered difficulties inside THIS IS CHARISMA, EL JEFE was beginning to close off the race satisfactorily and, in his opinion, the horse will be suited by stepping up in distance at its future starts and also by gaining more experience racing around a bend. A veterinary inspection of EL JEFE immediately following the race including an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. For the majority of the race, TRUE LEGEND travelled wide and without cover. TRUE LEGEND then made the Home Turn awkwardly and in the Straight raced greenly and shifted ground on a number of occasions. When questioned regarding the improved performance of VOYAGE STAR, Trainer T P Yung stated that today’s win was not anticipated by him. He said VOYAGE STAR has breathing issues and after the horse disappointed at its last start over 1650 Metres at Happy Valley, he decided to bring it back in distance to 1200 Metres. He said he felt that the improved performance could be attributed to obtaining an uncontested lead. He said he was not able to offer any other explanation for the turnaround in performance today. After the race, C Y Ho stated that after being able to obtain a position in front of midfield THIS IS CHARISMA travelled satisfactorily in the early and middle stages. He said he placed the horse under pressure rounding the Home Turn and THIS IS CHARISMA initially finished off the race one-paced, however, after being crowded for room and becoming unbalanced near the 200 Metres, THIS IS CHARISMA then gave ground over the concluding stages. He said as the horse was beaten he did not test it close to the finishing line. He added that this was THIS IS CHARISMA’s first start at Sha Tin today and that this may have played a part in the horse’s disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of THIS IS CHARISMA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of TRUE LEGEND and DAILY BEAUTY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. DUBLIN STAR, VOYAGE STAR and EPTIWINS were sent for sampling.