13/09/2020  Shatin  Race 10

GLORIOUS LOVER began awkwardly. FLYING MIGHTY began only fairly and then was crowded for room between ENTRUSTED which shifted out and BLAZING BEAT which was taken in by SUPERB DADDY which was in turn taken in by STAR OF YUEN LONG. CHAIRMAN LO shifted out at the start and bumped JOYFUL HEART. Then despite being ridden along for a short distance, CHAIRMAN LO failed to muster speed and consequently was shifted across behind runners. From the outside barrier, WISDOM PATCH was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. CHAIRMAN LO lost its right front plate in the early stages. Approaching the 1000 Metres, BLAZING BEAT raced tight inside SO WE JOY which was taken in by WINNING FOR ALL which shifted in before being directed out to relieve the tightening. After this, WINNING FOR ALL travelled very wide and without cover. When questioned, C Y Ho (WINNING FOR ALL) stated that he was instructed, from barrier 12, to obtain a position in about midfield or worse if possible. He said he was asked to try and get cover on WINNING FOR ALL because in the horse’s first barrier trial this season it had travelled too keenly in a forward position and then at a subsequent barrier trial in the lead up to today’s race, the horse had settled better and finished off the trial better when ridden with cover. He said WINNING FOR ALL began very well and he immediately took hold of the horse with a view to shifting behind CRAIG’S STAR which was drawn inside WINNING FOR ALL and was being ridden to obtain a forward position. He said shortly after the start WINNING FOR ALL commenced to travel keenly and, despite his efforts, he was unable to restrain the horse to obtain cover. He said he continued to steady WINNING FOR ALL in the hope of being able to obtain a trailing position somewhere in the field, however, the horse continued to travel too keenly and was left racing wide and without cover. He said when travelling keenly, WINNING FOR ALL shifted in abruptly after the 1100 Metres and he had to take corrective measures to prevent the horse from shifting in further and causing more substantial interference. He added because of this WINNING FOR ALL was then required to race wider than had been the case previously. He said he did give consideration to allowing WINNING FOR ALL to improve its position forward of SO WE JOY, however, this would have only resulted in the horse racing in a three wide position without cover and he felt that had he allowed the horse more rein, this would not have allowed WINNING FOR ALL any opportunity to finish off the race. He said, based on the way that WINNING FOR ALL raced today and trialed in the lead up to today’s race, he recommended to connections that they consider dropping the horse back in distance at its next race start and immediately riding it to obtain cover so that it is not left exposed in the early stages. When questioned regarding the performance of SO WE JOY, J Moreira stated that he was satisfied with the manner in which the horse travelled in the early stages. He said after being bumped by WINNING FOR ALL after the 1100 Metres, SO WE JOY travelled keenly until after the 900 Metres at which stage the horse relaxed better. He said although SO WE JOY was required to race in a three wide position without cover, he felt that the horse was travelling well enough to be able to finish off the race. He added after placing SO WE JOY under pressure rounding the Home Turn, the horse did not quicken but rather stayed on one-paced until about the 300 Metres. He said after this SO WE JOY commenced to come under heavy pressure and, despite being ridden out, was disappointing in the manner in which it gave ground over the concluding stages. Mr D A Hayes, the trainer of SO WE JOY, was not able to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of the horse which had trialed well in the lead up to today’s race. A veterinary inspection of SO WE JOY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of SO WE JOY, favourite for today’s race and which finished at the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SO WE JOY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SO WE JOY, CIRCUIT GLORY and STAR OF YUEN LONG were sent for sampling.