27/05/2020  Shatin  Race 8

ELITE PATCH was withdrawn on 26.5.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter TRUST ME (M F Poon). Before being allowed to race again, ELITE PATCH will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CALIFORNIA CONCORD shifted in at the start and inconvenienced HALL OF CHAMP. ZERO HEDGE shifted out at the start and bumped JUST NOT LISTENING (Z Purton) which became unbalanced. Z Purton stated that after this he rode his mount aggressively for some distance to obtain a prominent position as instructed, however, JUST NOT LISTENING did not show as much early speed as a number of other runners in the early stages and therefore he elected, approaching the 1000 Metres, to steady his mount and obtain cover rather than continue to race unnecessarily wide. He said when racing behind runners, JUST NOT LISTENING did not travel strongly at any stage of the race and in the Straight gave ground. He added, in his opinion, JUST NOT LISTENING produces best when able to obtain a leading position. From a wide barrier, STRIVE FOR GLORY was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1100 Metres, CANTSTOPTHEFEELING shifted in and bumped UTOPIA LIFE. After being ridden along in the early stages to obtain a forward position, ZERO HEDGE was steadied after the 1100 Metres to obtain cover. PRANCE DRAGON was shifted across behind runners from a wide barrier in the early stages. Making the turn after the 700 Metres, PRANCE DRAGON got its head on the side and lay out away from MEGA HEART. Near the 350 Metres, ZERO HEDGE shifted out and made contact with CANTSTOPTHEFEELING, causing both horses to become unbalanced. After the 300 Metres, HALL OF CHAMP was held up for clear running inside SINCERE BOY and behind JUST NOT LISTENING which was giving ground. Then approaching the 200 Metres, HALL OF CHAMP was shifted to the outside of SINCERE BOY to obtain clear running. Throughout the race, CANTSTOPTHEFEELING travelled wide and without cover. After the race, M F Poon reported that TRUST ME made an abnormal breathing noise when under pressure in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of TRUST ME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of STRIVE FOR GLORY and JUST NOT LISTENING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. UTOPIA LIFE, CALIFORNIA CONCORD and ZERO HEDGE were sent for sampling.