14/11/2020  Shatin  Race 4

On entering the track, SEVENTH SEA made contact with a rail, resulting in its rider, H W Lai, being dislodged without incident. On arrival at the Start, SEVENTH SEA was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. DIAMOND RHYME began awkwardly, shifted in at the start and brushed SUN SUN FA FA which then shifted in and bumped MASTER HERO which began only fairly. SO AWESOME began awkwardly and stumbled and consequently shifted in and bumped MIGHTY POWER. SO AWESOME and DEMONS ROCK then made contact a short distance after the start, resulting in DEMONS ROCK shifting out and inconveniencing SMART WONGCHOY. ULTIMATE GLORY began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped SURE WIN WIN. After this, both ULTIMATE GLORY and SURE WIN WIN were shifted across behind runners from the outside barriers. SEVENTH SEA and SUNNY AND GOLD were also steadied in the early stages from wide barriers to obtain cover. Approaching the 1300 Metres, MIGHTY POWER shifted in and made contact with NATURAL WINNER. Near the 1250 Metres, MIGHTY POWER was steadied away from the heels of DEMONS ROCK which was taken in by SMART WONGCHOY (Apprentice C L Chau) which got its head on the side and lay in. Apprentice Chau was advised to ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances. After this, SMART WONGCHOY, when being ridden to obtain the lead, continued to lay in and passing the 1000 Metres shifted in, resulting in DEMONS ROCK being momentarily inconvenienced. Near the 1000 Metres, SO AWESOME was left racing wide and without cover. At the entrance to the Straight, GOLDEN FOUR was shifted to the inside of RIGHTEOUS WIN after being disappointed for running between that horse and SEVENTH SEA. MASTER HERO was held up for a run from passing the 400 Metres until after the 300 Metres at which stage the horse was shifted to the outside of SO AWESOME to obtain clear running. The whip of V Borges (RIGHTEOUS WIN) momentarily became entangled in the reins as V Borges changed his whip into his right hand passing the 300 Metres. Passing the 200 Metres, GOLDEN FOUR was held up for clear running when racing in restricted room between MASTER HERO and SURE WIN WIN which shifted out. After this, GOLDEN FOUR continued to race tight inside the heels of MASTER HERO until the concluding stages of the race. A Badel stated that it was anticipated that todays’ race would be run at a stronger tempo than at NATURAL WINNER’s last start when the horse was ridden to lead. He said he was therefore asked to ride NATURAL WINNER positively in the early stages to take up a forward position, however, if other runners showed more early speed than NATURAL WINNER, as was anticipated, he should take a sit on NATURAL WINNER and obtain a trailing position to allow the horse the opportunity to close off the race. He said in accordance with his instructions he rode NATURAL WINNER positively in the early stages to obtain a prominent position and when DIAMOND RHYME, DEMONS ROCK and SMART WONGCHOY were all being ridden to obtain a forward position, he shifted NATURAL WINNER across behind those horses to obtain cover. After the race, M L Yeung stated that it was not intended for MIGHTY POWER to be ridden as far forward as today, however, after the horse began well, MIGHTY POWER was left racing wide and as it was not available for him to shift in to obtain a position closer to the rail, he allowed his mount to improve its position after the 1200 Metres forward of NATURAL WINNER to obtain a position one horse off the rail. He said MIGHTY POWER was required to race without cover and more forward than had been intended and given the horse’s failure to finish off the race, he is of the view that MIGHTY POWER may be better suited being ridden with cover. A veterinary inspection of MIGHTY POWER immediately following the race found that horse to have an intermittent displacement of the soft palate. A veterinary inspection of SUN SUN FA FA and DEMONS ROCK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SO AWESOME, DIAMOND RHYME and MASTER HERO were sent for sampling.