27/02/2022  Shatin  Race 7

NORDIC WARRIOR began only fairly. JADE PHOENIX and GOLDEN EMPIRE bumped at the start. COUNTRY BOY began awkwardly. ORIENTAL SMOKE shifted out at the start and inconvenienced CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO. After travelling a short distance, VUKAN shifted in and bumped FIGHTING STAR. From the outside barrier, PLIKCLONE was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Despite being ridden along for some distance in the early stages, GREEN ENVY failed to muster speed and passing the 1300 Metres was steadied to obtain cover. Passing the 1300 Metres, ORIENTAL SMOKE got its head on the side and lay in. After being ridden along in the early stages, VUKAN was awkwardly placed inside the heels of SMART FOLKS passing the 1200 Metres. VUKAN was then steadied away from the heels of SMART FOLKS which shifted in away from the heels of ORIENTAL SMOKE near the 1100 Metres. Passing the 1200 Metres, COUNTRY BOY was left racing wide and without cover. Rounding the Home Turn, CIRCUIT SPIRITANTO was awkwardly placed behind VUKAN. Approaching the 300 Metres, VUKAN was held up for clear running when racing close to the heels of FIGHTING STAR. VUKAN then had difficulty obtaining clear running until near the 250 Metres. Approaching and passing the 300 Metres, ORIENTAL SMOKE was bumped by GOLDEN EMPIRE which shifted out. Near the 50 Metres, GOLDEN EMPIRE and ORIENTAL SMOKE brushed. Close to the finishing line, PLIKCLONE improved to be racing close to the heels of SOLAR PARTNER. Because of this, PLIKCLONE was not able to be ridden out all the way to the end of the race. In the Straight, SOLAR PARTNER shifted ground on a number of occasions, resulting in its rider having to correct his mount. Then approaching the 100 Metres, SOLAR PARTNER was shifted in abruptly to avoid causing interference to runners to its outside. After this, SOLAR PARTNER continued to race greenly. After the race, M F Poon expressed concern regarding the action of JADE PHOENIX which weakened in the Straight to finish at the rear of the field. A veterinary inspection of JADE PHOENIX immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Before being allowed to race again, JADE PHOENIX will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. When questioned, B Shinn stated that in the early stages NORDIC WARRIOR was reluctant to maintain its position amongst runners and did not travel as comfortably as it did in its last start. He said in the middle stages NORDIC WARRIOR continued to travel only fairly and after placing his mount under pressure in the early part of the Straight he became concerned with the action of NORDIC WARRIOR when it became unbalanced. He said he continued to ride NORDIC WARRIOR along albeit he had some concerns as the horse was not striding out comfortably as it did for him last start. He said near the 200 Metres NORDIC WARRIOR’s action shortened and when briefly racing tight inside MR ALDAN near the 150 Metres NORDIC WARRIOR’s action deteriorated markedly and as he had concerns for the horse’s wellbeing, he immediately eased it out of the race. He added that after the race although he was not able to detect anything significant with the action of NORDIC WARRIOR, he believed that the manner in which the horse felt today was in contrast to its most recent start. A veterinary inspection of NORDIC WARRIOR immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Having regard to the evidence provided by Jockey Shinn, the Stewards ruled that NORDIC WARRIOR will be required to perform to the satisfaction of the Stewards in a barrier trial and be subjected to an official veterinary examination before being allowed to race again. GOLDEN EMPIRE and ORIENTAL SMOKE were sent for sampling.