20/09/2020  Shatin  Race 5

NOBLE DESIRE began only fairly. FOR FUN’S SAKE bounded in the air at the start, shifted out and bumped EXCELLENT CHARIOT which became unbalanced, shifted out and bumped SHANGHAI GRACE. SURE WIN WIN shifted in abruptly at the start despite the efforts of its rider and bumped WINNING STEED. TIGER GLARE and PRETTY CUTE made contact at the start, causing both horses to become unbalanced. After this, from wide barriers, TIGER GLARE and PRETTY CUTE were steadied to obtain cover. From the outside barriers, BELUGA and PLANET FLYER were also steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. At the entrance to the Straight, FOR FUN’S SAKE was shifted to the outside of BELUGA when disappointed for running between that horse and NOBLE DESIRE which improved to the outside of FORTUNE MASTER. After the 400 Metres, NOBLE DESIRE was checked away from the heels of LUCKY RUBY when held up for clear running. NOBLE DESIRE was then shifted out a number of horses to obtain a run. Passing the 300 Metres, FOR FUN’S SAKE was momentarily eased away from the heels of NOBLE DESIRE as that horse shifted out. SHANGHAI GRACE had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Throughout the race, MONKEY JEWELLERY and SURE WIN WIN travelled wide and without cover. K C Leung, the rider of PRETTY CUTE, was fined the sum of $5,000 for using the whip unnecessarily on a horse out of contention over the concluding stages. After the race, M Chadwick stated that it was intended to obtain a trailing position on DIAMOND PEGASUS, however, his mount travelled strongly in the early stages and he was unable to steady it sufficiently to allow LUCKY RUBY to cross. Also after the race, EXCELLENT CHARIOT was reported to have sustained a small cut to the right front leg. BELUGA, EXCELLENT CHARIOT and DIAMOND PEGASUS were sent for sampling.