17/10/2021  Shatin  Race 6

NABOO ATTACK began only fairly. BUDDIES and VOYAGE WARRIOR stumbled at the start. STRONGER and HARMONY AND RICH bumped heavily at the start, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced. From a wide barrier, WISHFUL THINKER was steadied and shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Passing the 1000 Metres, DUKE WAI got its head up when awkwardly placed behind SUPER WEALTHY. After the 1000 Metres, STRONGER was eased away from the heels of COURIER WONDER which shifted in when just clear. Approaching the 900 Metres, NABOO ATTACK shifted out of its own accord and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUPER WEALTHY. NABOO ATTACK then got its head up and made the turn after the 900 Metres awkwardly and shifted out, resulting in DUKE WAI losing ground when taken out across the heels of COURIER WONDER. After the 600 Metres, DUKE WAI raced tight between STRONGER and NABOO ATTACK. At the entrance to the Straight, BUDDIES raced tight outside SKY FIELD which shifted to the outside of HARMONY AND RICH to obtain clear running. COURIER WONDER had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight and then passing the 300 Metres was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of both HARMONY AND RICH and SUPER WEALTHY when being shifted to the inside of HARMONY AND RICH in an attempt to obtain clear running. When COURIER WONDER shifted in, NABOO ATTACK was inconvenienced in consequence. After the 300 Metres, HARMONY AND RICH was bumped by SUPER WEALTHY which shifted to the outside of VOYAGE WARRIOR to obtain clear running. Approaching the 250 Metres, COMPUTER PATCH raced tight inside LUCKY PATCH which shifted in. For the majority of the race, LUCKY PATCH travelled wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the performance of SKY FIELD, B Shinn stated that he was asked to have SKY FIELD racing in a more handy position than had been the case due to the horse having drawn barrier 2 and having VOYAGE WARRIOR, a horse which obtained a forward position, drawn to its inside. He said SKY FIELD began well and was able to obtain a forward position without having to be vigorously ridden along. He said he had to make some use of the horse passing the 1100 Metres to prevent BUDDIES from shifting in to race in front of SKY FIELD as he did not want to be following that horse in the latter stages of the race. He said in the middle stages SKY FIELD travelled comfortably albeit he had to again niggle at SKY FIELD passing the 800 Metres to maintain its position inside BUDDIES. He said at the entrance to the Straight he was able to shift to the outside of HARMONY AND RICH to obtain clear running, however, SKY FIELD, which was carrying top weight in today’s race, did not quicken as well as he anticipated and then over the latter stages of the race was disappointing in the manner in which it failed to finish off the race. He added that given the manner in which SKY FIELD raced today, he was of the opinion that the horse may be better suited by being ridden more quietly and advised the connections of this immediately after the race. A veterinary inspection of SKY FIELD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned regarding the performance of NABOO ATTACK, A Badel stated that after the horse became unbalanced approaching the 900 Metres, he was able to obtain a trailing position behind SUPER WEALTHY. He said NABOO ATTACK travelled strongly in the middle stages and quickened satisfactorily at the top of the Straight. He said near the 300 Metres NABOO ATTACK was crowded for room inside COURIER WONDER which resulted in the horse losing momentum. He said after this NABOO ATTACK was not able to rebalance and then finished off the race only fairly over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of NABOO ATTACK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of BUDDIES, COURIER WONDER and HARMONY AND RICH immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. COURIER WONDER, LUCKY PATCH and SUPER WEALTHY were sent for sampling.