11/04/2021  Shatin  Race 6

GREEN REIGN began only fairly. BREEZE OF SPRING shifted out at the start and brushed MY ECSTATIC. BREEZE OF SPRING was then crowded for room between MY ECSTATIC and SOLAR POWER which shifted out. After this, BREEZE OF SPRING was steadied to obtain cover. OFF THE REEL stumbled on jumping and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From a wide barrier, RED BRICK FIGHTER was also steadied shortly after the start to obtain cover. Near the 1250 Metres, BREEZE OF SPRING, which was improving its position, was shifted in away from the heels of RED BRICK FIGHTER which was being shifted across to obtain a position closer to the rail. RED BRICK FIGHTER was then shifted out passing the 1200 Metres to relieve the crowding to BREEZE OF SPRING. After this, BREEZE OF SPRING commenced to travel keenly. Near the 1000 Metres, ZELUS became unbalanced, shifted in and bumped IRON KING. ZELUS then shifted out and bumped MY ECSTATIC which became unbalanced. LIGHT OF WANSHI, which was following ZELUS, was awkwardly placed behind that horse. RED IMPACT, which was following LIGHT OF WANSHI, commenced to travel very keenly and was checked away from the heels of that horse for some distance. ZELUS then made the turn near the 900 Metres awkwardly when racing tight between MY ECSTATIC and IRON KING which also made the turn awkwardly, got its head on the side and lay out towards the heels of NOBLE MAN. After this, despite being ridden along, ZELUS was not able to maintain its position between IRON KING and MY ECSTATIC. Passing the 900 Metres, RED BRICK FIGHTER was left racing wide and without cover. Also passing the 900 Metres, BREEZE OF SPRING was bumped and taken wider by RED IMPACT which, when continuing to travel awkwardly, shifted out away from the heels of LIGHT OF WANSHI which remained awkwardly placed behind ZELUS as that horse was having difficulty maintaining its position. As a result of being taken out by RED IMPACT, BREEZE OF SPRING was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 600 Metres, LIGHT OF WANSHI was eased away from the heels of ZELUS. Near the 500 Metres, UNIVERSAL HERO became unbalanced when crowded for room inside LIGHT OF WANSHI (A Badel) which attempted to improve into tight running inside ZELUS which at this stage commenced to shift out. When ZELUS was straightened by its rider, LIGHT OF WANSHI had to be steadied when unable to continue improving inside ZELUS which resulted in both LIGHT OF WANSHI and UNIVERSAL HERO being badly crowded for room. The Stewards advised A Badel that they accepted that ZELUS commencing to shift out had provided grounds for him to commence to improve his position inside that horse, however, he was told to exercise due care when attempting to improve into runs which are not fully available. Approaching the 400 Metres, WINWIN THIRTYTHREE was steadied and shifted to the outside of GREEN REIGN to obtain clear running. GREEN REIGN was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight. IRON KING was held up for clear running from on straightening until passing the 200 Metres. Near the 350 Metres, NOBLE MAN momentarily raced in restricted room between MY ECSTATIC and LITTLE BIRD which shifted out marginally. When questioned, V Borges (NOBLE MAN) stated that after the 400 Metres he attempted to improve into tight running between LITTLE BIRD and MY ECSTATIC. He said as he was commencing to improve into this run, he had to steady NOBLE MAN as a result of the gap starting to close between MY ECSTATIC and LITTLE BIRD which shifted out marginally. He said this resulted in NOBLE MAN being awkwardly placed inside the heels of MY ECSTATIC approaching the 300 Metres. He said as he intended to continue to pursue the run inside MY ECSTATIC, given that tight running was still available between that horse and LITTLE BIRD, he looked to his inside to establish whether he was able to direct NOBLE MAN in so as to continue to pursue the run inside MY ECSTATIC. He said when he established that GREEN REIGN was commencing to shift to the outside of LITTLE BIRD as a result of IRON KING racing tight to that horse’s inside, he then directed NOBLE MAN to the outside of MY ECSTATIC. He said as he was doing this he had a look to his outside to ensure that he was able to improve outside MY ECSTATIC without placing pressure on WINWIN THIRTYTHREE. V Borges was advised that the Stewards would report his explanation, however, he was told that they had recently had cause to speak to him regarding looking around in races and he was again warned against this practice. He was further told that whilst there is a necessity for riders to ride safely, excessive looking around in races is something which should not occur in races in Hong Kong. A veterinary inspection of UNIVERSAL HERO immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. A veterinary inspection ZELUS and LIGHT OF WANSHI immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GREEN REIGN, MY ECSTATIC and SOLAR POWER were sent for sampling.