01/10/2021  Shatin  Race 3

SUPER FAST shifted in at the start and inconvenienced GO GO SIXTEEN. SPEED FAY FAY began awkwardly and bumped the inside of its barrier stall. COPARTNER ERA began awkwardly and shifted out towards the heels of RED IMPACT which also shifted in. After this, COPARTNER ERA was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. From the outside barrier, JOY MASTER was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages to obtain cover. WINWIN THIRTYTHREE shifted in shortly after the start and was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SHANGHAI DRAGON. At the entrance to the Straight, SPEED FAY FAY was bumped on the hindquarters by JOYFUL HEART (K Teetan) which shifted out in an attempt to improve between RED IMPACT and SPEED FAY FAY. When unable to improve between those horses, JOYFUL HEART was then awkwardly placed behind RED IMPACT for a short distance. WINWIN THIRTYTHREE, which was following JOYFUL HEART, was shifted in away from the heels of that horse passing the 400 Metres in consequence. K Teetan reported that after JOYFUL HEART’s momentum was broken as a result of being disappointed for running between RED IMPACT and SPEED FAY FAY, the horse was then not able to finish off the race. He said it was his opinion that JOYFUL HEART races best when having uninterrupted running which was the reason for its failure to finish off the race. A veterinary inspection of JOYFUL HEART immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Passing the 400 Metres, WINNING STEED was steadied away from the heels of SHANGHAI DRAGON after initially attempting to improve inside that horse where there was insufficient room. After the 300 Metres, JOY MASTER improved into running between GO GO SIXTEEN and SUPER FAST which got its head on the side and lay in. As JOY MASTER was improving between those horses, SUPER FAST was corrected by its rider and shifted out marginally whilst GO GO SIXTEEN (K C Leung) shifted in under pressure. K C Leung was advised that whilst there were some circumstances to this incident, nonetheless in similar circumstances he would be expected to do his utmost to keep his mounts on a straight course. Approaching the 200 Metres, JOYFUL HEART raced tight inside SPEED FAY FAY. WINWIN THIRTYTHREE was unable to obtain clear running at any stage in the Straight and near the 200 Metres shifted in away from the heels of RED IMPACT, resulting in WINNING STEED being crowded for room. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of SPEED FAY FAY, Apprentice C L Chau stated that the horse was able to enjoy a good run in the race behind RED IMPACT which was racing outside the lead. He said he shifted SPEED FAY FAY to the outside of RED IMPACT near the 500 Metres and SPEED FAY FAY initially commenced to improve into the race well. He said he then placed SPEED FAY FAY under pressure after the 400 Metres, however, the horse did not respond to his riding and did not quicken as he anticipated. He said he continued to ride SPEED FAY FAY out after this, however, the horse was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to respond to his riding and gave ground over the latter stages to finish at the rear of the field. He added SPEED FAY FAY felt comfortable in its action in the race and therefore he was unable to provide an explanation for the horse’s disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of SPEED FAY FAY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of SPEED FAY FAY, favourite for today’s race and which finished last, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, SPEED FAY FAY will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of WINNING STEED immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SPEED FAY FAY, COPARTNER ERA and SUPER FAST were sent for sampling.