01/11/2020  Shatin  Race 10

GIFT OF LIFELINE and HEZA BEAUTY began only fairly. PURE LEGEND and TRUE LEGEND bumped at the start. Near the 1300 Metres, PURE LEGEND and HEZA BEAUTY raced tight. When travelling wide and without cover, CHATER PINS proved very difficult to settle after the 1000 Metres and got its head up for some distance before being able to obtain cover behind TAKE WHAT YOU NEED near the 900 Metres. After the 500 Metres, ANGEL OF MY EYES was awkwardly placed outside the heels of CHATER PINS which got its head on the side and shifted out away from E STAR as that horse was shifting to the outside of CHANCHENG PRINCE to obtain clear running. Passing the 150 Metres, GIFT OF LIFELINE was directed to the inside of MARVEL DRAGON which shifted out when awkwardly placed outside the heels of TRUST ME. Throughout the race, TAKE WHAT YOU NEED travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Z Purton (ANGEL OF MY EYES) stated that in pre-race discussions with Mr C S Shum, the trainer of the horse, it was felt that there was good pace engaged in the race and were ANGEL OF MY EYES to be ridden to obtain a forward position from the wide barrier, too much use would have to be made of the horse and therefore ANGEL OF MY EYES may not be able to finish off the race. He said due to the anticipated strong tempo, it was felt that the best option for ANGEL OF MY EYES was for the horse to be ridden more quietly than previously and attempt to obtain a position with cover in about midfield. He said after shifting ANGEL OF MY EYES across in the early stages he was able to obtain a position behind CHATER PINS behind midfield. He said after obtaining clear running in the Straight ANGEL OF MY EYES finished off the race only fairly given that PURE LEGEND in particular was able to come from behind ANGEL OF MY EYES to finish in advance of his mount. He added, given that ANGEL OF MY EYES was having only its 5th race start today, he was unsure as to whether ANGEL OF MY EYES’ disappointing performance was attributable to the horse being ridden more quietly than it previously had been. A veterinary inspection of GIFT OF LIFELINE, MARVEL DRAGON, CHANCHENG PRINCE and TRUST ME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. ANGEL OF MY EYES, E STAR and HEZA BEAUTY were sent for sampling.