06/02/2021  Shatin  Race 5

SWEETLY BABY began only fairly and then was ridden along in the early stages to obtain a forward position. SPEED FORCE shifted out at the start and bumped CAN’T TOUCH THIS which was crowded for room inside GOLDEN GENERAL. SPEED FORCE and CAN’T TOUCH THIS were then crowded for room shortly after the start between GOLDEN GENERAL and PROUD SKY which shifted out after being bumped by BRAVERY AND POWER which itself was bumped by TREASURE CHEST on jumping. In this incident, GOLDEN GENERAL shifted out, resulting in KEEP WINNING being crowded inside GENERAL DINO which became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by KEEP WINNING. From the outside barrier, FAIRY FLOSS was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. CAN’T TOUCH THIS lost its left front plate in the early stages. Passing the winning post on the first occasion, GOLDEN GENERAL got its head up when being steadied to obtain cover. After being ridden along in the early stages, KA YING BRILLIANCE was steadied passing the winning post on the first occasion when racing wide to obtain cover. FAIRY FLOSS travelled keenly passing the 1200 Metres when awkwardly placed behind GOLDEN GENERAL. KEEP WINNING had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. When questioned, Z Purton stated that, from the wide barrier, he was asked to ride JADE THEATRE quietly in the early stages to obtain cover and it was felt that this would result in the horse being positioned towards the rear of the field. He said after beginning well he immediately steadied JADE THEATRE with a view to shifting his mount across behind runners, however, when a considerable number of horses to his inside were also being steadied in the early stages, he believed that it was not available for him to restrain his mount given the manner in which it began and the positioning of horses to his inside. He said therefore approaching the winning post on the first occasion he elected to ride JADE THEATRE positively in an attempt to obtain a trailing position behind the leaders. He said near the 1500 Metres SPEED FORCE maintained its position to his inside which resulted in JADE THEATRE not being able to shift across to race behind TREASURE CHEST and this resulted in JADE THEATRE being left racing in a three wide position without cover after the 1400 Metres. He added rather than continue to race wide, he elected to allow JADE THEATRE to improve its position in the hope of being able to clear TREASURE CHEST to race outside CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE. He said as he did this TREASURE CHEST and CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE maintained their position to his inside and as he would have had to make too much use of JADE THEATRE to cross those horses, he steadied his mount near the 1100 Metres to obtain a trailing position behind TREASURE CHEST as he was aware that a gap had opened up behind the leaders, He also added that as he steadied JADE THEATRE, CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE and TREASURE CHEST also steadied in the lead which resulted in him having to take more time than hoped to obtain a trailing position behind TREASURE CHEST which he was able to do after the 900 Metres. A veterinary inspection of JADE THEATRE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. C Y Ho (SWEETLY BABY) stated that after obtaining a position behind the speed inside BRAVERY AND POWER after the 1400 Metres, his mount was reluctant to maintain its position inside that horse. He said as the tempo of the race was good in the early and middle stages, he believed that he would have had to ride SWEETLY BABY aggressively after the 1200 Metres to continue to race inside BRAVERY AND POWER. He said therefore he elected to obtain a trailing position behind that horse near the 1000 Metres rather than ride his mount along which would have resulted in the horse then not being able to finish off the race. He said after the 600 Metres he attempted to shift out away from the rail from behind BRAVERY AND POWER, however, SPEED FORCE maintained its position to the outside of SWEETLY BABY and therefore he was not able to shift out. He added SWEETLY BABY was badly held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight and it was not until after the 300 Metres that he was able to obtain clear running and after this SWEETLY BABY finished off the race satisfactorily. A veterinary inspection of SWEETLY BABY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE immediately following the race found that horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, CIRCUIT NUMBER ONE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. TREASURE CHEST, DRAGON COMMANDER and FAIRY FLOSS were sent for sampling. <8/2/2021 Additional Veterinary Report>After the race, SWEETLY BABY was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said at that time there were no significant findings. SWEETLY BABY was again examined by the Veterinary Officer at the stables of Trainer C Fownes yesterday morning. He said at this time he noted the horse to be lame in its right front leg. Before being allowed to race again, SWEETLY BABY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.