16/01/2022  Shatin  Race 7

RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE began only fairly. CROSSFORD lost ground when crowded for room on jumping between KING’S CAPITAL and ROMANTIC COMBO which shifted out. ALL FOR ST PAUL’S shifted in at the start and bumped ENJOYING. After this, ENJOYING was steadied and shifted across behind runners. From a wide barrier, RIGHT HONOURABLE was also steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. In the early stages, KING’S CAPITAL travelled keenly when being steadied to obtain cover. TURIN REDSTAR was badly held up for clear running from passing the 400 Metres until after the 250 Metres. RIGHTEOUS DOCTRINE was awkwardly placed close to the heels of EXCEPTIONAL NICE rounding the Home Turn and then near the 300 Metres was directed to the inside of EXCEPTIONAL NICE to obtain clear running. Near the 50 Metres, ALL FOR ST PAUL’S raced tight outside EXCEPTIONAL RACE which shifted out under pressure. SKYEY SUPREME lost its right front plate during the race. After the race, H T Mo expressed concern regarding the action of MAGNIFICENT over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of MAGNIFICENT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, MAGNIFICENT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Also after the race, J Moreira stated that he was not able to offer any explanation for the manner in which SKYEY SUPREME weakened out of the race in the Straight. He said the horse travelled well in the lead, however, after being placed under pressure did not respond to his riding and then failed to close off the race. A veterinary inspection of SKYEY SUPREME immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, M F Poon (ALL FOR ST PAUL’S) stated that it was felt that today’s race would be run at a good tempo as there were a number of on-speed runners engaged, he said he was asked to allow ALL FOR ST PAUL’S to gradually improve in the early stages to obtain a forward position and it was hoped that ALL FOR ST PAUL’S would be able to travel outside the anticipated leader of the race SKYEY SUPREME. He said he was instructed not to ride his mount along in the early stages to take up a forward position as ALL FOR ST PAUL’S would not be able to finish the race off if use were made of the horse in the early stages in a race that was to be run at a good tempo. He said in accordance with his instructions he began positively on ALL FOR ST PAUL’S from barrier 12 and after being crossed by SKYEY SUPREME, he gradually allowed his mount to improve into a forward position. He said near the 1300 Metres as he was improving around CHANCHENG PRINCE with a view to shifting to the outside of SKYEY SUPREME, CHANCHENG PRINCE, which was travelling strongly, was allowed to improve its position inside ALL FOR ST PAUL’S. He said as he would have had to ride ALL FOR ST PAUL’S vigorously to clear CHANCHENG PRINCE at this time, he allowed that horse to improve its position to race outside the lead and attempted to obtain cover near the 1200 Metres. He said however that MAGNIFICENT and EXCEPTIONAL NICE maintained their positions to the inside of ALL FOR ST PAUL’S which resulted in that horse travelling wide and without cover throughout the race. A veterinary inspection of TURIN REDSTAR and CROSSFORD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CHANCHENG PRINCE, ROMANTIC COMBO and KING’S CAPITAL were sent for sampling.