13/03/2021  Shatin  Race 8

WAYFOONG STAR, which proved very difficult to proceed to the barriers after entering the track, bumped a running rail. On arrival at the Start, WAYFOONG STAR was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said that the horse was suitable to race. The Stewards placed a warning on the raceday manners of WAYFOONG STAR and should it prove difficult to proceed to the Start again in the future, further action may be taken. WAYFOONG STAR was slow to begin. VIVA POPCORN began awkwardly and then shortly after the start became unbalanced when bumped by JUNGLE BLAZE which was taken in by SILVERY WARRIOR. FA FA began awkwardly and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From a wide barrier, SWOT TROOPERS WIND was also shifted across behind runners to obtain cover shortly after the start. After the 1100 Metres, DIAMOND PIXIU commenced to travel keenly when being steadied to obtain cover. Also after the 1100 Metres, FORZA SPEEDO commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed behind DANDY YEARS. Passing the 1000 Metres, TOP SCORE was left racing wide and without cover. Making the turn near the 900 Metres, VIVA POPCORN commenced to prove very difficult to settle and shifted out across the heels of SILVERY WARRIOR after being checked away from the heels of JIANGXI STAMINA which made the turn awkwardly and shifted out away from the heels of DIAMOND PIXIU, resulting in JIANGXI STAMINA bumping SILVERY WARRIOR. FA FA, which was racing outside VIVA POPCORN, was inconvenienced and taken wider in this incident. Passing the 900 Metres, SWOT TROOPERS WIND was shifted out away from the heels of WAYFOONG STAR which commenced to travel keenly and shifted out away from the heels of JUNGLE BLAZE. The performance of SILVERY WARRIOR, which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SILVERY WARRIOR will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. K C Leung stated that he was given similar instructions today on how to ride VUKAN as last start. He said at its most recent start the horse had drawn the outside barrier and he was able to shift across gradually in the early stages without having to make too much use of his mount to obtain a position outside the lead prior to the first turn. He said in today’s race it was anticipated that SUPER WINNER would be able to lead from an outside barrier as that horse had led at its most recent start over 1200 Metres. He said he was told that if no other horse was intent on leading, it was available to him to dictate the race, however, if SUPER WINNER was ridden to lead as anticipated, then he should attempt to take a trailing position behind that horse. He said SUPER WINNER was ridden along in the early stages and it soon became apparent to him that the rider of that horse was intent on leading and therefore he was content to obtain a trailing position on the rail behind SUPER WINNER. He added VUKAN travelled keenly for a short distance behind SUPER WINNER after the 900 Metres but then relaxed better after the 700 Metres. After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on FORZA SPEEDO at the request of Trainer Y S Tsui. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. The performance of FORZA SPEEDO which finished tailed out, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, FORZA SPEEDO will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SUPER WINNER and DANDY YEARS were sent for sampling.