24/01/2021  Shatin  Race 6

SPLENDOUR AND GOLD jumped in at the start, resulting in CHAMPION SUPREME, which was slow to begin, being further hampered. VINCY and ENTRUSTED made contact on jumping. ABOVE and STIMULATION also made contact at the start. From wide barriers, CLEMENT LEGEND and ENRICHMENT were shifted across behind runners soon after the start. After passing the winning post on the first occasion, ABOVE shifted out and brushed VINCY which in turn shifted out and inconvenienced SPLENDOUR AND GOLD which then got its head up when steadied. When left racing wide and without cover in the early stages, ARROGANT was allowed to improve its position to settle outside the lead at the 1400 Metres at which stage ENTRUSTED was left racing wide and without cover. Rounding the Home Turn, FLYING MIGHTY was awkwardly placed between AWE and SPLENDOUR AND GOLD. At the entrance to the Straight, HAPPY MY BROTHER shifted out off the heels of ARROGANT and bumped the hindquarters of ENTRUSTED. Approaching and passing the 300 Metres, HAPPY MY BROTHER and ENTRUSTED raced tight and made further contact as HAPPY MY BROTHER improved outside of ARROGANT. ENRICHMENT was held up for clear running from the 300 Metres until the 150 Metres. Apprentice C L Chau (VINCY) was severely reprimanded for permitting his mount to shift in passing the 250 Metres, resulting in AWE and ENTRUSTED being crowded for room. In this incident, ENTRUSTED made contact with HAPPY MY BROTHER which consequently became awkwardly placed close to the heels of ARROGANT which was losing ground. Also in this incident, CLEMENT LEGEND was obliged to shift out to avoid the heels of ENTRUSTED when that horse lost ground. Approaching the 150 Metres, AWE was shifted to the outside of the heels of VINCY to obtain clear running. When questioned, A Badel stated that from a wide barrier and from the awkward starting position at the 2000 Metres, it was agreed that NATURAL STORM should be ridden conservatively as there was concern that if the horse were to be ridden to take up a forward position, it would likely be left racing wide and without cover. He said after settling at the rear of the field, NATURAL STORM travelled comfortably, however, when the tempo quickened approaching the Home Turn, NATURAL STORM immediately came off the bridle and did not initially respond to his riding. He added it was not until over the final 200 Metres that NATURAL STORM commenced to close off the race and, in his view, the circumstances of the race did not suit the horse today. A veterinary inspection of NATURAL STORM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SPLENDOUR AND GOLD immediately following the race found that horse to have an epiglottic entrapment. A veterinary inspection of HAPPY MY BROTHER and ENTRUSTED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NATURAL STORM, STIMULATION and ABOVE were sent for sampling.