17/10/2021  Shatin  Race 2

SHADOW RUNNER and LOVE ME MORE bumped at the start. CHEERFUL DAYS was crowded for room on jumping between HAPPY WIN WIN and VOYAGE STAR which shifted out. In this incident, HAPPY WIN WIN and CHEERFUL DAYS bumped. PRESIDENT’S CHOICE began awkwardly and from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. When being steadied from a wide barrier to obtain cover, HEARTY WISH got its head up on jumping. From a wide barrier, UNIVERSAL HERO was also shifted across behind runners to obtain a position closer to the rail. Passing the 1300 Metres, ROMANTIC COMBO was momentarily eased away from the heels of COUNTRY BOY. L Ferraris (LOVE ME MORE) was found guilty of a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that for some distance approaching the 1000 Metres he failed to make sufficient endeavours to prevent his mount from shifting in which resulted in SHADOW RUNNER being hampered when unnecessarily crowded for room and shifting in after the 1000 Metres, resulting in ROMANTIC COMBO and KING OF THE COURT being inconvenienced. L Ferraris was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Wednesday, 3 November 2021 and to expire on Monday, 8 November 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays). UTOPIA LIFE travelled wide and without cover until passing the 600 Metres. At the entrance to the Straight, CHEERFUL DAYS was brushed by SHADOW RUNNER which was taken out by UTOPIA LIFE. Between the 400 Metres until approaching the 200 Metres, COUNTRY BOY had difficulty obtaining a clear run when attempting to improve into tight running between INFINITE POWER and VOYAGE STAR. After the 350 Metres, HAPPY WIN WIN had difficulty obtaining clear running. Approaching the 200 Metres, VOYAGE STAR was steadied away from the heels of ROMANTIC COMBO (J Moreira) which shifted in. J Moreira was reprimanded and told to ensure that he straightens his mounts sooner than he did on this occasion. Passing the 200 Metres, KING OF THE COURT, which was giving ground, was steadied away from the heels of HEARTY WISH (C L Chau) which shifted out. C L Chau was advised to exercise more care in similar circumstances. LOVE ME MORE, which was racing outside KING OF THE COURT, was inconvenienced in consequence. Approaching the 100 Metres, HEARTY WISH was shifted to the inside of CHEERFUL DAYS to continue improving. When questioned regarding the disappointing performance of KING OF THE COURT, A Badel stated that, from the inside barrier, he was able to take up a good position in the early stages. He said when the pace of the race was fast in the early stages, he elected to take a trailing position behind ROMANTIC COMBO passing the 1000 Metres after racing tight inside that horse. He said he was able to follow ROMANTIC COMBO in the middle stages, however, his mount did not travel as strongly as it did at its only other start. He said he had to niggle at KING OF THE COURT prior to the 500 Metres to have the horse maintain its position and KING OF THE COURT then did not quicken as he anticipated in the early part of the Straight. He added he continued to place KING OF THE COURT under pressure, however, the horse did not respond to his riding and was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to close off the race, particularly given how strongly it had finished at its only other race start. A veterinary inspection of KING OF THE COURT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. The performance of KING OF THE COURT, favourite for today’s race and which finished towards the rear of the field, was considered unacceptable. Before being allowed to race again, KING OF THE COURT 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, L Ferraris reported that LOVE ME MORE was making an abnormal breathing noise during the race. A veterinary inspection of LOVE ME MORE immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer”. Also after the race, the Veterinary Officer reported that MONSTER KAKA had bled from both nostrils. Following the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on SHADOW RUNNER at the request of Trainer P O’Sullivan. The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse’s trachea. Before being allowed to race again, SHADOW RUNNER will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. A veterinary inspection of VOYAGE STAR immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. KING OF THE COURT, CHEERFUL DAYS and HEARTY WISH were sent for sampling.