24/04/2022  Shatin  Race 10

DRAGON FORTUNE began only fairly, shifted out and brushed the hindquarters of STORM LEGEND which on jumping shifted out and bumped SHADOW MISSION. SEATTLE CHOICE and CIRCUIT STELLAR bumped on jumping. JOLLY RULER shifted out at the start and bumped BEAUTY LIVE. SMOOTHIES, MALDIVES, PEGASUS GENERAL and COUNTRY BOY were all shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. Passing the 700 Metres, GOLDEN EMPIRE momentarily raced tight between STORM LEGEND and JOLLY RULER which shifted in away from the heels of BEAUTY LIVE. MALDIVES was held up for clear running in the early part of the Straight and near the 300 Metres was shifted to the inside of STORM LEGEND to obtain clear running. CIRCUIT STELLAR was held up for clear running approaching and passing the 300 Metres and approaching the 200 Metres was checked when disappointed for running between MILLENNIUM FALCON which initially shifted out and BEAUTY LIVE which shifted in marginally. As the Stewards were satisfied that CIRCUIT STELLAR had not established running between MILLENNIUM FALCON and BEAUTY LIVE in the lead up to this incident, no further action was taken. Passing the 250 Metres, STORM LEGEND race tight inside the heels of SEATTLE CHOICE. Passing the 50 Metres, BEAUTY LIVE commenced to shift in towards MILLENNIUM FALCON and was corrected by its rider. Because of this, BEAUTY LIVE was not able to be fully tested over the concluding stages. The Stewards considered a protest/objection lodged by B Shinn, the rider of MALDIVES, which finished second, against SUPER TEN (L Hewitson) being declared the winner alleging interference on the grounds that SUPER TEN had shifted out after the 100 Metres and that MALDIVES was struck across the nose by the whip of L Hewitson. After taking evidence from all relevant parties and after viewing the videos, the Stewards found that passing the 100 Metres MALDIVES shifted out into tight running between DRAGON FORTUNE and SUPER TEN. The Stewards further found that approaching the 50 Metres MALDIVES was struck across the nose by the whip of L Hewitson. The Stewards were of the opinion that any shift out at the relevant time by SUPER TEN was minimal and when MALDIVES improved into tight running outside SUPER TEN, that horse was struck across the nose by the whip of L Hewitson. As in the opinion of the Stewards L Hewitson had not altered his normal whip motion during the relevant period and that MALDIVES had improved into the arc of L Hewitson’s normal use of the whip, the protest/objection was overruled and weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. Subsequent to the protest/objection hearing, the Stewards inquired into the reasons for DRAGON FORTUNE being checked near the 50 Metres. The Stewards found that after MALDIVES improved to the outside of SUPER TEN which shifted out marginally, DRAGON FORTUNE was crowded for room between MALDIVES and STORM LEGEND which, after also shifting in marginally, then shifted in further after being bumped on the hindquarters by DRAGON FORTUNE. The Stewards further found that when DRAGON FORTUNE was initially tightened for room, MALDIVES shifted out further after becoming unbalanced as a result of being struck over the nose by the whip of L Hewitson and this further shift out from MALDIVES was a significant contributing factor to the interference suffered by DRAGON FORTUNE. B Shinn was told that whilst the Stewards were of the opinion that there were a number of factors associated with this incident, nonetheless he was reprimanded and told to ensure that he exercises due care when shifting ground to obtain clear running in future. When questioned, J Moreira (BEAUTY LIVE) stated that he was instructed to attempt to obtain a trailing position behind the leaders if possible. He said in accordance with his instructions, from the outside barrier, he shifted his mount across in the early stages with a view to obtaining cover behind MILLENNIUM FALCON. He said after the 1100 Metres BEAUTY LIVE was left racing in a four wide position without cover and he anticipated that SHADOW MISSION would improve forward of SUPER TEN which would result in MILLENNIUM FALCON racing one horse off the rail and therefore BEAUTY LIVE, whilst still not being able to obtain cover, would not have to race as wide as eventuated. He said although the pace of the race after the 1200 Metres was not strong, he did not feel that BEAUTY LIVE was travelling sufficiently well to be able to then be ridden forward of MILLENNIUM FALCON to race outside SHADOW MISSION which was racing outside SUPER TEN. He added that he believed that this was supported by BEAUTY LIVE coming off the bridle passing the 700 Metres which resulted in him having to ride his mount along for some distance approaching and passing the 600 Metres to maintain its position. When questioned, M Chadwick stated that he was instructed to ride MILLENNIUM FALCON in a position in advance of midfield and with cover if possible. He said in the early stages, from barrier 9, he was racing outside GOLDEN EMPIRE which was being steadied by its rider and therefore he elected to allow his mount to improve forward of that horse after the 1200 Metres. He said he anticipated that SHADOW MISSION would be ridden to clear SUPER TEN to its inside and he had hoped that BEAUTY LIVE would then shift across to race outside SHADOW MISSION which would result in MILLENNIUM FALCON obtaining a position with cover behind the leaders. He added that when SHADOW MISSION remained racing one horse off the rail and BEAUTY LIVE was steadied by its rider to the outside of MILLENNIUM FALCON, this resulted in MILLENNIUM FALCON travelling in a three wide position and without cover throughout and in a more forward position than anticipated. GOLDEN EMPIRE, SUPER TEN and MALDIVES were sent for sampling.