24/10/2021  Shatin  Race 10

SEA OF LIFE was crowded for room on jumping between SUNSHINE WARRIOR and RATTAN, both of which shifted ground. After this, SEA OF LIFE was ridden along to obtain a more forward position. MISTER SNOWDON began awkwardly. BEAUTY FIT was crowded for room on jumping between GOLDEN DASH which shifted out and AMAZING ONE PLUS which was taken in by DECRYPT which got its head on the side and shifted in despite the efforts of its rider. After this, both BEAUTY FIT and AMAZING ONE PLUS were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Approaching the 1100 Metres, MASTER MONTARO (Z Purton) was awkwardly placed behind BALLISTIC KING which was being steadied in an endeavour to obtain cover. In this incident, MASTER MONTARO shifted in and bumped GOLDEN DASH. After this, MASTER MONTARO proved difficult to settle and passing the 1000 Metres got its head up on a number of occasions. Then near the 900 Metres, MASTER MONTARO was left racing wide and without cover. After the race, Z Purton stated that, in his opinion, MASTER MONTARO’s failure to finish off the race was attributable to the horse having to race wide and without cover and not settling as well as it did at its most recent start. He said after the race MASTER MONTARO felt comfortable in its action and therefore he was not able to offer any other explanation for the horse’s run today. A veterinary inspection of MASTER MONTARO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Passing the 1100 Metres, AMAZING ONE PLUS was awkwardly placed outside the heels of RATTAN when being steadied to obtain cover behind that horse. After the 600 Metres, GOLDEN DASH was awkwardly placed inside the heels of MASTER MONTARO when racing tight outside RATTAN which shifted out away from the heels of SEA OF LIFE which itself was awkwardly placed between MISTER SNOWDON and CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT. Approaching the 500 Metres, GOLDEN DASH went amiss and was retired from the race. A veterinary inspection of GOLDEN DASH immediately following the race found that horse to have sustained a fracture to its right hind pastern. Near the 500 Metres, RATTAN was awkwardly placed close to the heels of SEA OF LIFE. After the 300 Metres, RATTAN was directed to the inside of SEA OF LIFE to obtain clear running. RATTAN was then shifted away from DECRYPT passing the 200 Metres as that horse gave ground. When questioned, M L Yeung (DECRYPT) stated that it was anticipated that CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT and HIGHLAND FORTUNE would share the lead in the race which may afford DECRYPT the opportunity to obtain a trailing position behind those horses. He said after riding his mount positively in the early stages to take up a forward position, he shifted across towards the rail after the 1100 Metres and when it appeared to him that CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT was not persisting in obtaining the lead, he was left with no other option but to continue forward of that horse as DECRYPT was racing wide and no other horse appeared as though it was going to be ridden to obtain a forward position. After the race, C L Chau stated that although MISTER SNOWDON was left racing wide and without cover near the 800 Metres, his mount was travelling comfortably. He said however that passing the 700 Metres and again near the 600 Metres MISTER SNOWDON became unbalanced when bumped on the hindquarters by SEA OF LIFE. He said, in his opinion, this resulted in the horse losing momentum which it was not able to regain as it then came under pressure rounding the Home Turn. He added whilst MISTER SNOWDON did not finish off the race as anticipated, he was of the opinion that the horse becoming unbalanced in the middle stages may have been the reason for its disappointing performance. A veterinary inspection of MISTER SNOWDON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SEA OF LIFE immediately following the race found that horse to have bled from both nostrils. MASTER MONTARO, HIGHLAND FORTUNE and CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT were sent for sampling.