07/11/2021  Shatin  Race 8

FANTASY shifted out abruptly at the start, resulting in ENNEA FORTUNE being crowded for room inside GLORIFIED FIRE and bumping the hindquarters of that horse, causing GLORIFIED FIRE to become unbalanced. GLORIFIED FIRE then shifted in when unbalanced, resulting in ENNEA FORTUNE striking the heels of that horse and stumbling. After this, ENNEA FORTUNE was shifted across behind runners. SEIZING THE MOMENT began only fairly. MOERAKI began awkwardly and then was hampered when crowded for room outside CORDYCEPS SIX which shifted out. Approaching the 400 Metres, STOCK LEGEND, which was laying out, was awkwardly placed outside the heels of GLORIFIED FIRE which shifted out. After being initially directed to the inside of RESOLUTE, ENNEA FORTUNE was shifted to the outside of that horse passing the 200 Metres as RESOLUTE shifted in under pressure. ENNEA FORTUNE was then held up for clear running when awkwardly placed behind GOOD VIEW CLARICO and outside RESOLUTE. Then approaching the 100 Metres, ENNEA FORTUNE (M Chadwick) was directed to the outside of GOOD VIEW CLARICO which resulted in MOERAKI being crowded for room. MOERAKI was then very awkwardly placed close to the heels of SUPER AXIOM as that horse gave ground over the concluding stages. Because of this, MOERAKI was not able to be tested over the final 150 Metres. M Chadwick was told that whilst there were some circumstances to this incident, namely ENNEA FORTUNE was held up for clear running and SUPER AXIOM was weakening in advance of MOERAKI, nonetheless he was reprimanded and told to exercise more care when shifting ground in similar circumstances. ENNEA FORTUNE was also not able to be properly tested over the concluding stages. When questioned regarding the performance of NERVOUS WITNESS, Z Purton stated that his mount travelled very strongly in the early and middle stages. He said when CORDYCEPS SIX commenced to improve its position inside NERVOUS WITNESS passing the 400 Metres, he immediately became concerned as NERVOUS WITNESS did not quicken as it had for him in the past. He said he placed NERVOUS WITNESS under heavy pressure after the 300 Metres, however, the horse did not respond as he anticipated and then over the concluding stages finished off the race only fairly. He added NERVOUS WITNESS had barrier trialed well in the lead up to today’s race and its work, when ridden by him, had been good which indicated to him that the horse had not taken any adverse effects out of its most recent start in which NERVOUS WITNESS was placed under heavy pressure in the middle stages. He said however that based on the manner in which NERVOUS WITNESS failed to finish off today’s race, it may be that that race may have taken more out of the horse than he thought. Mr D A Hayes, trainer of NERVOUS WITNESS, said that, in his opinion, NERVOUS WITNESS had improved since its last run as the horse had trialed and worked extremely well. He said he had anticipated that NERVOUS WITNESS may take some time to recover from its last run, however, in the days subsequent to that run, NERVOUS WITNESS had pleased him and given the amount of time between that race and today’s race, he was not of the opinion that its last race had had any bearing on the horse’s disappointing performance today. He added at this time he was at a loss to explain the horse being beaten as he fully expected that it would again race successfully. A veterinary inspection of NERVOUS WITNESS immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of SUPER AXIOM immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. NERVOUS WITNESS, CORDYCEPS SIX and RUN RUN COOL were sent for sampling.