01/01/2021  Shatin  Race 6

DIVINE REGULUS was withdrawn on 31.12.20 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (blood abnormality) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter GREEN REIGN (C Schofield). Before being allowed to race again, DIVINE REGULUS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. On arrival at the Start, it was noted that STOICISM had lost its left front plate. This plate was refitted. STOICISM was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said in his opinion it was suitable to race. IGNITING was slow to begin STOICISM jumped out at the start and made contact with ACA POWER. POISED TO STRIKE and WAR OF COURAGE also made contact at the start. From wide barriers, SUPER DOBBIN and SHADOW RUNNER were steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages. For some distance after leaving the 1000 Metres, ACA POWER raced fiercely and refused to settle when being steadied to allow TRUST ME to cross. When continuing to race fiercely passing the 900 Metres, ACA POWER shifted out and made contact with SCORES OF FUN which was also shifting in at that stage. Approaching and passing the 900 Metres, POISED TO STRIKE was steadied away from the heels of WAR OF COURAGE which shifted in. When shifting out from behind WAR OF COURAGE approaching the 200 Metres in an endeavour to obtain clear running, GREEN REIGN was obliged to be checked away from the heels of WAR OF COURAGE which was brushed and taken out by IGNITING which was improving into tight running between WAR OF COURAGE and SCORES OF FUN which also shifted out slightly under pressure. GREEN REIGN was then checked severely away from the heels of INNER FLAME which was inclined to lay in when racing tight inside SUPER DOBBIN which shifted in slightly under pressure. When GREEN REIGN shifted out abruptly away from the heels of INNER FLAME, SHADOW RUNNER was inconvenienced and obliged to shift out to avoid that horse. In this incident, INNER FLAME became badly unbalanced as a consequence of GREEN REIGN striking its heels. After passing the 200 Metres, ARES, which was giving ground, was steadied away from the heels of TRUST ME which, after initially being inclined to lay in, then shifted in after being bumped by NAMJONG SINGS (A Badel). A Badel was reprimanded and told that in similar circumstances he would be expected to stop riding and straighten his mounts sooner than he did on this occasion. For the majority of the race, SCORES OF FUN travelled wide and without cover. A veterinary inspection of INNER FLAME immediately following the race found that horse to have an intermittent displacement of the soft palate. A veterinary inspection of ARES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SUPER DOBBIN, NAMJONG SINGS and TRUST ME were sent for sampling.