28/02/2021  Shatin  Race 3

BEAUTY RUSH stumbled at the start, shifted out and inconvenienced BEAUTY SMILE which began only fairly. From wide barriers, WINNING METHOD and BEAUTY LEGACY were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 550 Metres, THE CROWN raced tight between WINNING METHOD which improved around THE CROWN and CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT which shifted to the outside of HIGHLY PROACTIVE. In this incident, THE CROWN shifted out after being brushed by CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT and bumped the hindquarters of WINNING METHOD, resulting in that horse becoming unbalanced approaching the 500 Metres. WINNING METHOD then shifted in, causing THE CROWN to become unbalanced when buffeted for room between WINNING METHOD and CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT. Approaching the 200 Metres, WINNING METHOD and THE CROWN raced tight outside the heels of CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT. After the 200 Metres, BEAUTY LEGACY raced tight outside the hindquarters of WINNING METHOD. Passing the 100 Metres, HIGHLY PROACTIVE and CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT shifted out under pressure. The Stewards questioned A Hamelin regarding his use of the whip on BEAUTY LEGACY approaching the 100 Metres. A Hamelin stated that after using the whip behind the saddle in the early part of the Straight, BEAUTY LEGACY lay in and was awkwardly placed outside the heels of WINNING METHOD approaching and passing the 200 Metres when that horse also shifted out. He said he continued to try and use the whip on BEAUTY LEGACY in the normal manner and approaching the 100 Metres drew the whip with a view to using it behind the saddle. He said when he did this, he was aware that he was racing close to A Badel, the rider of WINNING METHOD and as he was drawing the whip, he was concerned that if he continued to pull the stroke, he would strike A Badel and therefore he made the decision to pull out of the stroke rather than continue on. He said this resulted in him lowering the whip down behind the horse’s neck and at no stage did the whip contact the head or neck of BEAUTY LEGACY. He added passing the 100 Metres a gap opened up between BEAUTY LEGACY and WINNING METHOD and therefore he resumed using the whip behind the saddle. After considering A Hamelin’s evidence and after viewing the videos, the Stewards were satisfied that A Hamelin’s whip had not come into contact with the head or neck of BEAUTY LEGACY and therefore no further action was taken. THE CROWN, HIGHLY PROACTIVE and CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT were sent for sampling.