12/07/2020  Shatin  Race 1

ONE STEP AHEAD was slow to begin. BRAVERY AND POWER began only fairly and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners. Also from wide barriers, SPICY REALLY, AMAZING AGILITY and SPEEDY DRAGON were all steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, DIAMOND LEGEND failed to muster speed and approaching the 1000 Metres was left racing wide and without cover. DIAMOND LEGEND was then taken wider still passing the 800 Metres when SPICY REALLY shifted out away from the heels of ADONIS. ADONIS was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Passing the 1100 Metres, ONE STEP AHEAD was momentarily awkwardly placed close to the heels of WINNING CONTROLLER. Also passing the 1100 Metres, SPICY REALLY was steadied away from the heels of ADONIS which was steadied to obtain cover behind ONE STEP AHEAD. Near the 1050 Metres, AMAZING AGILITY received contact from SPEEDY DRAGON which improved into tight running inside DIAMOND LEGEND which was then shifted out to relieve the tightening to SPEEDY DRAGON and AMAZING AGILITY. Passing the 400 Metres, TREASURE CHEST was steadied and shifted to the inside of CORRE RAPIDO and E GENERATION to obtain clear running when unable to improve outside CORRE RAPIDO where there was insufficient room. Approaching the 300 Metres, KELMIMI WINS was checked when crowded for room between SHANGHAI DRAGON (A Hamelin) which, after being taken out marginally by CORRE RAPIDO, then shifted out away from that horse and WINNING CONTROLLER (B Shinn) which also shifted in marginally. Both A Hamelin and B Shinn were advised that the individual shifts from both SHANGHAI DRAGON and WINNING CONTROLLER were minimal and consequently did not constitute careless riding, however, they were told to ensure that they do what they can to prevent their mounts from shifting, even a minimal amount of ground. Passing the 250 Metres, TREASURE CHEST raced in restricted room inside E GENERATION which shifted in marginally. Approaching the 150 Metres, SHANGHAI DRAGON was steadied away from the heels of CORRE RAPIDO which shifted out marginally away from E GENERATION which also shifted marginally. After the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that ONE STEP AHEAD had sustained a laceration to the left hind fetlock. A veterinary inspection of SHANGHAI DRAGON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of NITRO EXPRESS immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. KELMIMI WINS and ADONIS were sent for sampling.