20/11/2022  Shatin  Race 10

At declaration time, K C Leung was declared as the rider of both DECRYPT and MASSIVE ACTION. It was established that K C Leung had a firm commitment to ride MASSIVE ACTION. As such, the Stewards permitted C Y Ho to be substituted as the rider of DECRYPT. For this declaration error, Trainer P C Ng was fined $2,000. ERIMO and SEASONS BLISS bumped heavily on jumping, resulting in both horses becoming unbalanced and bumping again shortly after the start. TAMRA BLITZ shifted in at the start and bumped the hindquarters of GOOD BUDDY. HAPPY DAY began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped MASTER MONTARO which also began awkwardly. When being steadied on jumping with a view to being shifted across behind runners, SUPER BABY was crowded for room between MASTER MONTARO and COBHFIELD which shifted in. After this, COBHFIELD was shifted across behind runners with SUPER BABY. Also from the outside barriers, DECRYPT and ROCKET SPADE were steadied on jumping and shifted across behind runners to obtain a position closer to the rail. After the 1100 Metres, MASTER MONTARO, which was travelling keenly, was left racing wide and without cover. Then making the turn after the 900 Metres, MASTER MONTARO, which was continuing to prove difficult to settle, lay in and was steadied away from the heels of MASTER HERO. When MASTER MONTARO lay in, DECRYPT momentarily raced in restricted room between MASTER MONTARO and HAPPY DAY which got its head on the side and lay out. MASTER MONTARO then shifted out and made the turn awkwardly. After the 1000 Metres, MASTER HERO was also left racing wide and without cover. Approaching the 700 Metres, HAPPY DAY raced close to the heels of ERIMO. COBHFIELD, which was following HAPPY DAY, was steadied away from the heels of that horse in consequence. Also approaching the 700 Metres, SUPER BABY got its head up when awkwardly placed behind TAMRA BLISS. MASTER HERO got its head on the side and lay out rounding the Home Turn. Shortly after entering the Straight, GOOD BUDDY was shifted in away from the heels of SEASONS BLISS to obtain clear running. Near the 350 Metres, ERIMO and WINNER METHOD bumped. At the 350 Metres, COBHFIELD was steadied when disappointed for running between ROCKET SPADE which improved to the inside of MASTER HERO and TAMRA BLITZ which shifted out from behind WINNER METHOD. After the race, Z Purton stated that, in his opinion, ERIMO’s failure to finish the race off today was attributable to the horse having to carry the top weight of 135 lbs. He said whilst ERIMO had previously carried weight in some of its races, that was in Class 4. He said he was of the view that the horse was not able to finish the race off today when carrying top weight in Class 3. A veterinary inspection of ERIMO immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. Also after the race, J McDonald was not able to offer any explanation for WINNER METHOD’s failure to finish off today. He said after travelling in a forward position, WINNER METHOD came under pressure in the early part of the Straight and then gave ground over the latter stages. A veterinary inspection of WINNER METHOD immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. GOOD BUDDY and MASSIVE ACTION were sent for sampling.