19/04/2020  Shatin  Race 7

GLENEALY GENERALS shifted out at the start and bumped KEEP YOU WARM. BEAUTY SPIRIT shifted out at the start and made contact with LUCKY PUZZLE which in turn shifted out and bumped MOREAKI which became badly unbalanced and in turn shifted out and bumped HANDSOME BO BO, causing that horse to be taken out and inconveniencing XIANG YIN. After this, XIANG YIN was shifted across behind runners from a wide barrier. GRADE ONE and TEAM SPIRIT bumped at the start. After this, GRADE ONE, from a wide barrier, was steadied and shifted across behind runners. MOREAKI was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. GRADE ONE made the turn near the 900 Metres awkwardly, resulting in XIANG YIN racing in restricted room inside MOREAKI. Approaching the 500 Metres, MOREAKI shifted out after being brushed by HAPPY ALUMNI which shifted out away from the rail. Over the concluding stages, XIANG YIN was shifted out away from the heels of GLENEALY GENERALS to continue improving. In the Straight, LUCKY PUZZLE lay out under pressure. When questioned, V Borges (HAPPY ALUMNI) stated that after shifting his mount towards the rail in the early stages, he rode it along approaching the 1000 Metres in an attempt to obtain the position racing directly behind FANTASY. He said HAPPY ALUMNI was slow to muster speed and as the first turn was approaching and having regard to HAPPY ALUMNI’s history of being difficult to manage, he elected not to continue to pursue the position behind FANTASY and inside KEEP YOU WARM which was shifting in. He said this allowed KEEP YOU WARM the opportunity to shift in in front of HAPPY ALUMNI and he therefore followed that horse until being able to shift away from the rail near the 500 Metres and to the outside of runners rounding the Home Turn. After the race, Z Purton was unable to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of HANDSOME BO BO. He said the horse was able to take up a forward position in the early stages as usual, however, travelled only fairly in the middle stages and then did not finish off the race in the Straight after racing tight outside FANTASY approaching and passing the 200 Metres. A veterinary inspection of HANDSOME BO BO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of KEEP YOU WARM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. FANTASY and TEAM SPIRIT were sent for sampling.