06/06/2021  Shatin  Race 5

At the time of declaration, Apprentice C L Chau notified a probable overweight of 2 lbs in respect of GOLDEN BOLT’s weight of 117 lbs having regard to Apprentice Chau’s 5 lb allowance. Apprentice Chau then weighed out 2 lbs overweight and on return to scale weighed in at 115 lbs. As Apprentice Chau weighed in 3 lbs over the weight notified at the time of declaration having regard to his allowance, he was fined the sum of $6,000. On arrival at the Start, ZONE D was noted to have blood in the mouth. ZONE D was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said the horse was suitable to race. ZONE D and THUNDER STOMP bumped at the start. GOLDEN BOLT shifted out on jumping and inconvenienced CORDYCEPS ONE. SPARKLING STAR began awkwardly and then was steadied to obtain cover in the early stages. UNICORNBABY began awkwardly. From the outside barriers, LUCKY DIAMOND and DARCI JOY were steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. For some distance after the 1100 Metres, CORDYCEPS ONE was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of MONSTER KAKA and near the 1050 Metres got its head on the side, shifted in and inconvenienced ULTIMATE GLORY. CORDYCEPS ONE continued to prove very difficult to settle and when continuing to be awkwardly placed behind MONSTER KAKA shifted in abruptly of its own accord near the 950 Metres, resulting in ULTIMATE GLORY being crowded for room and taken in, causing SPARKLING STAR to be bumped and to become unbalanced. DARCI JOY, which was following ULTIMATE GLORY, was inconvenienced in consequence. Near the 750 Metres, CORDYCEPS ONE was bumped by ZONE D which commenced to travel keenly and shifted out when awkwardly placed close to the heels of GOLDEN BOLT. This resulted in both CORDYCEPS ONE and WINNING BREW being taken wider and CORDYCEPS ONE racing without cover. SPARKLING STAR had difficulty obtaining clear running on straightening. Passing the 400 Metres, WINNING BREW got its head on the side and lay in. Passing the 150 Metres, UNICORNBABY raced in restricted room inside GALAXY EMPEROR which shifted in in an endeavour to improve to the inside of PACKING AWARD. GALAXY EMPEROR was then awkwardly placed close to the heels of PACKING AWARD until passing the 100 Metres. Passing the 100 Metres, DARCI JOY was shifted to the outside of SPARKLING STAR to continue improving. For the majority of the race, both WINNING BREW and MONSTER KAKA travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, J Moreira (ZONE D) stated that, in his opinion, the circumstances of the race accounted for the horse’s disappointing performance. He said ZONE D travelled too keenly after the 1000 Metres when the pace of the race steadied. He said this resulted in ZONE D being very awkwardly placed behind GOLDEN BOLT for some distance in the middle stages and having to shift out away from the heels of that horse approaching the 700 Metres. He said ZONE D continued to race keenly when racing behind MONSTER KAKA approaching the 600 Metres. He said when the tempo of the race quickened rounding the Home Turn, ZONE D was left flat-footed and then was disappointing in its failure to respond to his riding thereafter. He added that on pulling up after the race he noted that the horse had shifted its right front plate which he felt may have had some bearing on the horse’s performance today. A veterinary inspection of ZONE D immediately following the race did not show any significant findings other than confirming that the horse had shifted its right front plate. The performance of ZONE D, favourite for today’s race and which finished towards the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, ZONE D will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. After the race, Apprentice K H Chan was unable to offer any explanation for the disappointing performance of UNICORNBABY. He said he was able to obtain the lead in the early stages without having to make too much use of the horse and then was able to dictate the terms of the race at a steady tempo. He said UNICORNBABY came under pressure at the entrance to the Straight and then was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to respond to his riding and weakened over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of UNICORNBABY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Also after the race, PACKING AWARD was noted to have blood at the right nostril. An endoscopic examination conducted on PACKING AWARD confirmed that horse to have bled. A veterinary inspection of CORDYCEPS ONE immediately following the race found that horse to be distressed. Before being allowed to race again, CORDYCEPS ONE will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. ZONE D, PACKING AWARD and ULTIMATE GLORY were sent for sampling.