05/12/2021  Shatin  Race 10

THE IRISHMAN shifted in at the start and bumped GRACYLOVE. After this, from a wide barrier, GRACYLOVE was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From wide barriers, MAKE IT QUICK and SICOMORO were also steadied to obtain cover in the early stages. RISE BRETHREN was crowded for room on jumping between SCIENCE PATCH and BEAUTY LEGACY which shifted out. PERFECT PAIR and HALL OF CHAMP brushed on jumping. Approaching and passing the 1100 Metres, ALL BEAUTY commenced to over-race and got its head up when being checked away from the heels of HALL OF CHAMP. BEAUTY LEGACY got its head up when proving difficult to settle and close to the heels of SCIENCE PATCH passing the 1100 Metres. RISE BRETHREN had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight and after the 200 Metres shifted out and inconvenienced PERFECT PAIR. Passing the 300 Metres, BEAUTY LEGACY raced in restricted room inside the heels of SKY FOREVER. Passing the 200 Metres, THE IRISHMAN shifted in away from the heels of SCIENCE PATCH and brushed SICOMORO. After the 150 Metres, SCIENCE PATCH shifted out away from THE IRISHMAN and bumped BEAUTY LEGACY. Throughout the race, HALL OF CHAMP and PERFECT PAIR travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that as THE IRISHMAN has been keen in its track work, he was asked to ride the horse, which was having its first race start in Hong Kong today, quietly from a wide barrier to ensure that it was able to obtain cover and relax. He said it was felt that if the horse were ridden forward, it would not settle and this would not allow the horse the opportunity to finish off the race. He said for this reason he steadied THE IRISHMAN in the early stages and shifted the horse across behind runners and it was initially comfortable to be racing in a three wide position with cover behind ALL BEAUTY. He said when GRACYLOVE shifted out passing the 1200 Metres, this resulted in THE IRISHMAN being hampered when taken wider. He said as there was room to improve closer to the inside rail, he elected to steady THE IRISHMAN passing the 1000 Metres and shift across behind GRACYLOVE and obtain a position one horse off the rail. He said THE IRISHMAN travelled well in today’s race and then in the Straight closed off strongly. When questioned, J Moreira stated that, from barrier 13, he was initially asked to ride SKY FOREVER in a forward position. He said after discussing how the race may be run, it was decided, rather than obtain a forward position, to ride SKY FOREVER with cover if possible. He said after beginning well he shifted SKY FOREVER across in the early stages with a view to obtaining a position behind HALL OF CHAMP. He said however that when a considerable number of runners were positioned inside SKY FOREVER, he was not able to obtain cover and at this time he did not believe it would be in the best interests of SKY FOREVER to continue steadying his mount to obtain cover possibly behind ALL BEAUTY as the race was being run at a slow tempo which would make SKY FOREVER’s task more difficult even if it were able to do so. He added therefore he elected to continue to try and find cover behind HALL OF CHAMP, but as SKY FOREVER was unable to obtain cover, this resulted in the horse having to race very wide and without cover throughout. A veterinary inspection of SKY FOREVER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of HALL OF CHAMP and GRACYLOVE immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SKY FOREVER, BEAUTY JOY and THE IRISHMAN were sent for sampling.