18/12/2021  Shatin  Race 2

ALL THE WAY shifted out at the start and bumped GOLDEN MISSION. ALL THE WAY was then crowded for room between UNIVERSAL CROWN which was racing tight outside AUGUST MOON and GOLDEN MISSION which was taken in by SPEEDY DRAGON. AMAZEMENT began awkwardly and then from a wide barrier was shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. SCENIC SWEETIE shifted out at the start and bumped the hindquarters of TELECOM MISSILE. Then from the outside barriers, both SCENIC SWEETIE and TELECOM MISSILE were steadied to obtain cover. Passing the 1000 Metres, GOLDEN MISSION was crowded for room between AUGUST MOON and SPEEDY DRAGON (H W Lai) which shifted in before being directed out to relieve the tightening to GOLDEN MISSION. H W Lai was advised to exercise more care. Near the 950 Metres, TELECOM MISSILE was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SCENIC SWEETIE. After the 950 Metres, ALLOY STAR commenced to travel keenly and was awkwardly placed close to the heels of UNIVERSAL CROWN. After being shifted in across SPEEDY DRAGON (H W Lai) near the 800 Metres when just clear, SUNNY AND GOLD (J Moreira) was steadied by its rider. SPEEDY DRAGON, which was following SUNNY AND GOLD, shifted in away from the heels of that horse after being crossed which resulted in GOLDEN MISSION losing ground when crowded for rom outside AUGUST MOON. When GOLDEN MISSION lost ground, SUNNY SMILE, which was following, was checked away from the heels of that horse. ALL THE WAY was inconvenienced in consequence. J Moreira was advised to ensure that when shifting ground in similar circumstances, he does not ease his mounts too quickly. H W Lai was told to ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances and causing crowding to other runners. After the 800 Metres, SPEEDY DRAGON was left racing wide and without cover. Passing the 700 Metres, AMAZEMENT was steadied away from the heels of SPEEDY DRAGON when awkwardly placed behind that horse. Then passing the 650 Metres, AMAZEMENT was bumped by UNIVERSAL CROWN which, when racing keenly, also shifted out away from the heels of SPEEDY DRAGON. Passing the 500 Metres, UNIVERSAL CROWN (K H Chan) shifted out to obtain clear running and in doing so bumped AMAZEMENT on two occasions, resulting in both UNIVERSAL CROWN and AMAZEMENT becoming unbalanced. UNIVERSAL CROWN was then awkwardly placed behind SPEEDY DRAGON after being unable to shift to the outside of that horse. When AMAZEMENT was bumped, SCENIC SWEETIE was inconvenienced. ALLOY STAR, which was following AMAZEMENT, was awkwardly placed close to the heels of that horse when held up for clear running in consequence. K H Chan was severely reprimanded and told to ensure that he exercises far more care than he did on this occasion when shifting ground so as to prevent causing unnecessary contact with other horses. SUNNY AND GOLD lay out rounding the Home Turn. At the entrance to the Straight, SUNNY SMILE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of AUGUST MOON when being shifted out in an endeavour to obtain clear running. Passing the 350 Metres, ALLOY STAR was awkwardly placed behind AMAZEMENT after being disappointed for running between that horse and SCENIC SWEETIE. When AUGUST MOON was being shifted to the outside of SUNNY AND GOLD after the 300 Metres to obtain clear running, AUGUST MOON and GOLDEN MISSION bumped. SUNNY SMILE had difficulty obtaining clear running over the latter stages of the race and close to the finishing line was held up for clear running behind GOLDEN MISSION. Because of this, SUNNY SMILE was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. After the race, K H Chan stated that after bumping with AMAZEMENT rounding the Home Turn and being disappointed for running, UNIVERSAL CROWN then did not finish off the race strongly over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of UNIVERSAL CROWN immediately following the race found that horse to be a "roarer” which had previously been reported. GOLDEN MISSION, AUGUST MOON and TELECOM MISSILE were sent for sampling.