28/11/2021  Shatin  Race 1

WONDERFUL HORSE was slow to begin. EUROMISSILE lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and began only fairly. CIRCUIT SEVEN began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped NOBLE DESIRE. WONDERFUL HORSE was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of AQUILA near the 700 Metres and after the 400 Metres was shifted in away from the heels of that horse when continuing to be awkwardly placed behind AQUILA. WONDERFUL HORSE then became unbalanced when racing tight outside the heels of AQUILA after the 300 Metres. After the 500 Metres, WONDERFUL HORSE commenced to travel very keenly and shifted in away from the heels of AQUILA. Passing the 400 Metres, EUROMISSILE became unbalanced after being bumped by CIRCUIT SEVEN. GLENEALY GENERALS lay out under pressure over the latter stages of the race. Passing the 100 Metres, EUROMISSILE was shifted in away from the heels of GORGEOUS VITALITY which was taken in by CIRCUIT SEVEN which, after being bumped on the hindquarters by GORGEOUS VITALITY, then shifted in under pressure. When questioned, H T Mo stated that he was asked to obtain a forward position on EIGHT TRIGRAMS in accordance with the horse’s normal racing pattern. He said it was anticipated that SPARKLING DOLPHIN would also be ridden to obtain a forward position and he was told that if that horse showed superior speed to EIGHT TRIGRAMS, then it was acceptable for him to take a trailing position behind that horse. He said after EIGHT TRIGRAMS began well, he ensured that the horse was able to obtain a forward position. He said earlier in the race it became apparent to him that SPARKLING DOLPHIN was showing more speed than EIGHT TRIGRAMS and he was of the opinion that given the tempo of the race in the early stages, he would have had to ride his mount along somewhat to maintain his position outside SPARKLING DOLPHIN. He said given that his instructions were to take a trailing position if SPARKLING DOLPHIN showed speed, he elected to allow that horse to cross EIGHT TRIGRAMS after the 700 Metres and followed SPARKLING DOLPHIN in the middle stages. He added approaching the 600 Metres he shifted to the inside of SPARKLING DOLPHIN with a view to improving between that horse and NOBLE DESIRE. He said EIGHT TRIGRAMS was not able to quicken into the gap sufficiently, this resulted in the horse being disappointed for running between those horses as a result of NOBLE DESIRE shifting out. He said after this EIGHT TRIGRAMS had some difficulty obtaining clear running and because of this was not able to be fully tested. Mr D J Hall, the trainer of EIGHT TRIGRAMS, confirmed the instructions given to H T Mo. He said EIGHT TRIGRAMS had performed best when not having to be ridden too aggressively in the early stages to obtain a forward position. He said therefore in the circumstances he was satisfied with Jockey Mo’s decision to obtain a trailing position rather than continuing to maintain his position outside SPARKLING DOLPHIN. When questioned, B Shinn stated that he was not under any specific instructions on how to ride INFINITY WIN other than to have the horse racing where it was comfortable. He said in the early stages INFINITY WIN did not show as much speed as AQUILA which was drawn to its outside. He said he therefore elected to shift across behind that horse and obtained a trailing position. He said as he was aware that AQUILA had not finished off its race at its most recent start, he elected to continue to shift out to follow CIRCUIT SPLENDOR as he believed that given the manner in which that horse had trialed in the lead up to today’s race, it would take him into the race. He said he therefore shifted out to follow CIRCUIT SPLENDOR near the 500 Metres and passing the 400 Metres INFINITY WIN was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse as CIRCUIT SPLENDOR came under pressure much earlier in the race than he had envisaged. He added INFINITY WIN was then held up for clear running behind CIRCUIT SPLENDOR and after the 400 Metres had to be steadied as a result of being disappointed for running between CIRCUIT SPLENDOR which shifted in marginally when continuing to give ground and WONDERFUL HORSE which shifted out. He said after being disappointed for running outside WONDERFUL HORSE, he shifted INFINITY WIN in near the 300 Metres to obtain clear running. After the race, J Moreira said he was unable to offer any explanation for the manner in which CIRCUIT SPLENDOR weakened over the latter stages of the race. He said after obtaining a forward position in the early stages, CIRCUIT SPLENDOR initially travelled satisfactorily, however, gave ground quickly after the 400 Metres. A veterinary inspection of CIRCUIT SPLENDOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of FELIX THE KING immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SPARKLING DOLPHIN and NOBLE DESIRE were sent for sampling.