07/11/2021  Shatin  Race 5

RIGHT AS RAIN was crowded for room on jumping between HK DRAGON and WHAT A LEGEND, both of which shifted ground. BELLA BABY shifted out on jumping and bumped LOYAL AMBITION. SO AWESOME began awkwardly and shifted out abruptly which resulted in UNICORNBABY losing ground when badly crowded for room inside VOYAGE STAR. CHARGE ON began only fairly. From a wide barrier, HAPPY DAILY was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. When being shifted across behind runners, HAPPY DAILY travelled keenly. Approaching the 1200 Metres, BELLA BABY commenced to travel keenly and shifted out away from the heels of NIMBLE NIMBUS and in doing so bumped LOYAL AMBITION on two occasions. For some distance after the 800 Metres, BELLA BABY (Z Purton) proved very difficult to settle and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of LUCKY MARYKNOLL. After the race, Z Purton reported that, in his opinion, BELLA BABY travelled too keenly in the race and this was the reason for the horse not being able to finish off. He said he did recommend to connections that they consider dropping BELLA BABY back in distance as a more truly run race may provide the horse with a better opportunity to settle in the early and middle stages. A veterinary inspection of BELLA BABY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. PEAK TO PEAK and HK DRAGON had difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. HAPPY DAILY was held up for clear running rounding the Home Turn and in the early part of the Straight and after briefly obtaining clear running passing the 300 Metres again had difficulty obtaining clear running passing the 250 Metres. Passing the 400 Metres, MERIDIAN GENIUS got its head on the side and lay out under pressure. When attempting to improve into tight running between VOYAGE STAR and PEAK TO PEAK passing the 200 Metres, HK DRAGON shifted out passing the 150 Metres and bumped the hindquarters of PEAK TO PEAK which became unbalanced. HK DRAGON then continued to race in restricted room between VOYAGE STAR and PEAK TO PEAK and near the 100 Metres shifted out away from the heels of VOYAGE STAR and again bumped the hindquarters of PEAK TO PEAK which became unbalanced. Over the concluding stages, HK DRAGON lay out towards the heels of PEAK TO PEAK and consequently was not able to be fully tested. Throughout the race, LUCKY MARYKNOLL travelled wide and without cover. Also throughout the race, SO AWESOME (J Moreira) travelled very wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. After the race, J Moreira stated that because of the circumstances of the race, SO AWESOME was then not able to finish off the race as it did at its last start when able to obtain cover. A veterinary inspection of SO AWESOME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SO AWESOME, PEAK TO PEAK and NIMBLE NIMBUS were sent for sampling.