03/02/2022  Shatin  Race 4

NOT USUAL TALENT was slow to begin. WIND N GRASS raced tight shortly after the start between BUDDIES and LUCKY EXPRESS which was taken in by WILL POWER. After this, WILL POWER was steadied to obtain cover. From a wide barrier, MASTER MONTARO was steadied in the early stages and shifted across behind runners. For some distance after the 1300 Metres, CHEERFUL DAYS raced tight inside WIND N GRASS. After the 1200 Metres, MASTER MONTARO commenced to improve into tight running inside CHEERFUL DAYS which also improved to be racing tight inside the heels of BAND OF BROTHERS. This resulted in MASTER MONTARO being steadied near the 1050 Metres when unable to maintain its position inside CHEERFUL DAYS which continued to be awkwardly placed inside the heels of BAND OF BROTHERS. As the Stewards formed the view that there were a number of circumstances which resulted in this incident, no further action was taken. WILL POWER travelled keenly after the 1100 Metres when being steadied to obtain cover behind LUCKY EXPRESS. At the entrance to the Straight, IGNITING was shifted to the outside of BUDDIES in an attempt to improve. When CHEERFUL DAYS improved its position around IGNITING, IGNITING was crowded for room between that horse and BUDDIES, both of which shifted marginal ground. IGNITING then got its head on the side and lay out towards the heels of CHEERFUL DAYS passing the 300 Metres. LUCKY EXPRESS shifted in under pressure passing the 200 Metres. After the 200 Metres, WINNING DREAMER raced tight outside the heels of WILL POWER. CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT lay out under pressure approaching and passing the 100 Metres. When questioned, C Y Ho stated that due to having drawn the outside barrier and with WINNING DREAMER stepping up to 1400 Metres today, he was instructed to ride the horse conservatively in the early stages to provide it with the best opportunity to finish the race off. He said it was felt that if WINNING DREAMER were to be ridden to obtain a forward position, it would not be able to finish the race off. He said it was also felt that today’s race would be run at a fair tempo given that there were a number of horses engaged that normally take up forward positions. He said after steadying his mount in the early stages towards the rear of the field, the tempo of the race was not as genuine as anticipated and due to this WINNING DREAMER proved very difficult to settle after the 1100 Metres as he attempted to obtain cover behind WILL POWER. He added that due to the manner in which WINNING DREAMER was racing at this time, he was unable to obtain cover and consequently raced wide and without cover throughout the race. A veterinary inspection of WINNING DREAMER immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. After the race, it was noted that NOT USUAL TALENT had bled from both nostrils. CHEERFUL DAYS and CALIFORNIADEEPSHOT were sent for sampling.