23/01/2022  Shatin  Race 7

C Y Ho (GOLDEN SIXTY) was fined the sum of $2,000 for failing to present himself in the Parade Ring by the required time. WAIKUKU shifted in at the start and bumped RUSSIAN EMPEROR. MORE THAN THIS was steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. Approaching the 500 Metres, SKY DARCI raced tight outside GOLDEN SIXTY when being taken wider by that horse which shifted to the outside of MORE THAN THIS. GOLDEN SIXTY raced tight outside MORE THAN THIS at the entrance to the Straight as that horse lay out. Passing the 300 Metres, MORE THAN THIS raced tight between KINGS SHIELD and GOLDEN SIXTY which shifted in. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that, from barrier 1, he had intended to shift away from the rail in the early stages as he did not want to be held up for clear running at any stage of the race. He said in the small field he expected that GOLDEN SIXTY would race at the rear of the field, however, would be closer to the main body of the field than what it eventuated in this race. He said he anticipated that SKY DARCI and MORE THAN THIS would be closer in the run than they were and that he would race behind that pair of runners and shift to the outside near the 600 Metres. He said whilst the opportunity was available for GOLDEN SIXTY to improve along the Back Straight to be racing inside MORE THAN THIS, he was reluctant to allow GOLDEN SIXTY to do so given the possibility to be held up for clear running as horses on the pace gave ground and also that it appeared from the earlier races that horses racing away from the rail may have been advantaged. He said passing the 600 Metres he shifted out to be racing behind MORE THAN THIS and then near the 550 Metres improved to the outside of that horse. He said to do this he was required to brush SKY DARCI and take that horse wider. He said whilst he was comfortable with his decision not to improve inside MORE THAN THIS in the early and middle stages, he felt that it may have been more preferable to have shifted to the outside of MORE THAN THIS earlier than what he did to commence improving into the race. A veterinary inspection of HEALTHY HAPPY immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea. Before being allowed to race again, HEALTHY HAPPY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. WAIKUKU and GOLDEN SIXTY were sent for sampling.