11/12/2022  Shatin  Race 10

KING LAND and BEAUTY LIVE bumped at the start. ORIENTAL SMOKE shifted in on jumping and bumped SHINING GEM which in turn shifted in and bumped THE IRISHMAN which lost ground when crowded for room outside IMA SINGLE MAN. In this incident, IMA SINGLE MAN became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by THE IRISHMAN. EASON began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped BLAZE WARRIOR. After this, EASON and BLAZE WARRIOR were shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. BLAZE WARRIOR was then left racing wide and without cover passing the 1000 Metres. Also from the outside barriers, THE GOLDEN SCENERY, VIVA CHALEUR and WINNING METHOD were all steadied in the early stages to obtain cover. When being steadied to obtain cover for some distance after the 1300 Metres, KING LAND proved very difficult to settle. Approaching the 1100 Metres, SHINING GEM was crowded for room between LUCKY WITH YOU and THE IRISHMAN which shifted out. Rounding the Home Turn, SHINING GEM shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of THE GOLDEN SCENERY. VIVA CHALEUR was held up for clear running from on straightening until near the 250 Metres and then approaching the 150 Metres shifted out away from the heels of KING LAND and bumped LUCKY WITH YOU which became unbalanced. LUCKY WITH YOU and EASON had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the Straight. Near the 200 Metres, THE IRISHMAN was bumped on the hindquarters by SILVER EXPRESS which was taken in marginally by VIVA CHALEUR. After the 200 Metres, CIRCUIT STELLAR raced tight inside the heels of ORIENTAL SMOKE. When questioned, B Shinn stated that, in his opinion, THE IRISHMAN’s run in today’s race was better than it may appear. He said from barrier 5 he was unable to shift THE IRISHMAN to race outside runners in the middle stages which he felt was detrimental to the horse’s chances. He said he is of the opinion that THE IRISHMAN races best when outside runners, but due to the circumstances of the race he was not able to obtain that position. He added that approaching the 500 Metres he shifted THE IRISHMAN to the outside of BEAUTY LIVE with a view to improving between that horse and SILVER EXPRESS. He said as he did this BEAUTY LIVE shifted out and when SILVER EXPRESS maintained its position to the outside of THE IRISHMAN in the early part of the Straight, this resulted in THE IRISHMAN not being able to quicken. He said then over the concluding stages THE IRISHMAN stayed on satisfactorily in a race in which the circumstances were not to its advantage. A veterinary inspection of THE IRISHMAN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, K Teetan stated that he was instructed to find cover in the early stages on IMA SINGLE MAN. He said when racing in a three wide position outside KING LAND passing the 1200 Metres, he had hoped that either KING LAND or CIRCUIT STELLAR would improve their positions to allow IMA SINGLE MAN the opportunity to obtain a trailing position. He said when both CIRCUIT STELLAR and KING LAND maintained their positions and with ORIENTAL SMOKE racing to the outside of his mount, IMA SINGLE MAN commenced to travel keenly and therefore he allowed IMA SINGLE MAN to improve its position forward of KING LAND and then CIRCUIT STELLAR to race in the lead near the 1000 Metres. He added that in the middle stages IMA SINGLE MAN would not relax and travelled too keenly and because of this was then not able to finish the race off in the Straight. A veterinary inspection of IMA SINGLE MAN immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of EASON and KING LAND immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. THE IRISHMAN, BLAZE WARRIOR and BEAUTY LIVE were sent for sampling.