28/11/2021  Shatin  Race 10

C L Chau (IMA SINGLE MAN) was fined the sum of $3,000 for initially weighing out without a girth which required his saddle to be returned from the saddling area in order for him to be re-weighed. AMAZING CHOCOLATE and SENOR TOBA were slow to begin. REGENCY BO BO began awkwardly, shifted out and brushed BLAZE WARRIOR. From the outside barrier, SEATTLE CHOICE was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Despite being ridden along in the early stages, REGENCY BO BO failed to muster speed. After the 1000 Metres, both MISTER SNOWDON and IMA SINGLE MAN were left racing wide and without cover. Near the 900 Metres, MY SUGAR commenced to travel keenly and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of IGNITING. Near the 350 Metres, MY SUGAR raced tight between HINCHINLOVE and IGNITING which shifted out under pressure. Approaching the 300 Metres, KINDA COOL shifted out and brushed BLAZE WARRIOR. Also approaching the 300 Metres, REGENCY BO BO got its head on the side and shifted out towards the heels of SEATTLE CHOICE. REGENCY BO BO was then steadied passing the 300 Metres when racing in restricted room between SEATTLE CHOICE and AMAZING CHOCOLATE which shifted out. After being shifted to the outside of SEATTLE CHOICE, REGENCY BO BO continued to lay out and momentarily raced tight inside the heels of SENOR TOBA near the 150 Metres. When questioned, C L Chau (IMA SINGLE MAN) stated that he was instructed to obtain a trailing position behind the speed if possible. He said from a wide barrier it was felt that there would be runners better drawn than IMA SINGLE MAN which would lead and therefore it was hoped that he may be able to obtain a position with cover behind the speed. He said after steadying his mount passing the 1300 Metres and shifting IMA SINGLE MAN in behind HINCHINLOVE which was being ridden to obtain a forward position, he commenced to shift IMA SINGLE MAN across behind runners and had hoped to obtain a trailing position behind TEMPEST EXPRESS and outside BLAZE WARRIOR. He said as he was shifting IMA SINGLE MAN across to obtain a position behind TEMPEST EXPRESS, SEATTLE CHOICE was able to improve its position to race between BLAZE WARRIOR and IMA SINGLE MAN and this resulted in IMA SINGLE MAN not being able to obtain the position behind TEMPEST EXPRESS as he had hoped. He added although this was further back in the field than had been anticipated, given the circumstances of the race, he believed that obtaining the position behind TEMPEST EXPRESS would provide IMA SINGLE MAN with the best position in the race given the makeup of the field to that point. He said after SEATTLE CHOICE improved its position to race behind TEMPEST EXPRESS, IMA SINGLE MAN was left racing in a four wide position with cover behind MISTER SNOWDON, however, IMA SINGLE MAN was then left racing very wide and without cover after the 1000 Metres as TEMPEST EXPRESS shifted in to obtain a three wide position. A veterinary inspection of MASTER MONTARO and MISTER SNOWDON immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. BLAZE WARRIOR and MY SUGAR were sent for sampling.