25/04/2021  Shatin  Race 6

TRUST ME, Standby Declared Starter, was withdrawn on 24.4.21 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, TRUST ME will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. CHAMPION PAL shifted out at the start and bumped GREAT TREASURE. NORDIC WARRIOR was slow to begin. From a wide barrier, DAILY BEAUTY was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. TIANCHI MONSTER was also steadied and shifted across behind runners shortly after the start. Passing the 1100 Metres, GOLDEN LINK was steadied away from the heels of STAR PERFORMANCE (M F Poon) which shifted in when not properly clear. M F Poon was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. Passing the 100 Metres, GOLDEN LINK was awkwardly placed outside GALLANT EXPRESS which shifted out. SHINY ONE lost its right front plate after the race. After the race, H Bentley stated that he was instructed to have HORSESAIN BOLT positioned where it was comfortable. He said after shifting across from the outside barrier in the early stages, HORSESAIN BOLT was left racing wide and without cover and therefore he allowed his mount to improve into a more forward position. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he was instructed to ride GOLDEN LINK in a similar manner to its last start when successful, that is in a position 4th or 5th behind the speed. He said in the early stages E STAR was being hard ridden to obtain a forward position and as he did not wish to be taken onto the rail in the early stages, he allowed E STAR to improve its position forward of GOLDEN LINK. He said he had intended to follow E STAR but as that horse commenced to shift in towards the rail, STAR PERFORMANCE was able to shift across with that horse. He said he was reluctant to ride his mount along at this stage to prevent STAR PERFORMANCE from crossing GOLDEN LINK as GOLDEN LINK has a high head carriage and he felt that if the pace of the race were to slacken in the middle stages after riding his mount along, this would make it difficult for GOLDEN LINK to finish off the race. He said he therefore elected to take a trailing position behind STAR PERFORMANCE which resulted in GOLDEN LINK racing further back in the field than had been intended. After the race, J Moreira stated that GALLANT EXPRESS, which was only having its second race start today, is still immature. He said he had to ride his mount along after the 700 Metres to maintain its position behind HORSESAIN BOLT. He said GALLANT EXPRESS was inclined to shift ground in the Straight and considering that the horse is only in its early stage of its career, he believed it performed well today. A veterinary inspection of GALLANT EXPRESS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GALLANT EXPRESS, E STAR and HORSESAIN BOLT were sent for sampling.