16/01/2022  Shatin  Race 8

FABULOUSIO was crowded for room on jumping between CAPTAIN WIN and WIN WIN FIGHTER which shifted out. In this incident, FABULOUSIO bumped the hindquarters of CAPTAIN WIN which became unbalanced. STORM LEGEND, HELENE NORTH STAR and LOOKING GREAT were all steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. FABULOUSIO travelled keenly after the 1400 Metres. For some distance in the early and middle stages, HELENE NORTH STAR over-raced and approaching the 1000 Metres was very awkwardly placed close to the heels of EZRA. After the 1100 Metres, RISE BRETHREN was awkwardly placed behind CAPTAIN WIN. GAMEPLAYER TIMES got its head on the side and lay out rounding the Home Turn. At the entrance to the Straight, GAMEPLAYER TIMES and FABULOUSIO bumped, causing both horses to become unbalanced. FABULOUSIO then shifted out, resulting in CAPTAIN WIN, which was following FABULOUSIO, being checked away from the heels of that horse, shifting out and in doing so bumping EZRA and taking that horse wider. Then passing the 300 Metres, GAMEPLAYER TIMES again got its head on the side and shifted out away from SIGHT SPIRIT, causing FABULOUSIO to shift out away from the heels of GAMEPLAYER TIMES. In the early part of the Straight, SUPER OASIS was shifted out a number of horses to obtain clear running. In the Straight, SIGHT SPIRIT lay out and shifted ground on a number of occasions. Throughout the race, EZRA travelled wide and without cover. The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in whilst they considered if SOULMATE had been afforded a fair start. Subsequently K H Chan, the rider of SOULMATE, and Mr P F Yiu, the trainer of that horse, made application for SOULMATE to be declared a non-runner. After taking evidence from all parties which included Mr A Speechley, Starter, and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that as the start was effected SOULMATE, which was being assisted by a starting gate handler, reared, resulting in the horse losing a significant amount of ground. As the Stewards formed the opinion that SOULMATE had reared of its own accord and that the starting gate handler did not prevent the horse from beginning with the field, they ruled that SOULMATE had been afforded a fair start and accordingly, the horse was deemed to be a runner. Before being allowed to race again, SOULMATE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial. A veterinary inspection of SOULMATE and EZRA immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SIGHT SPIRIT and CAPTAIN WIN were sent for sampling.