01/01/2023  Shatin  Race 5

KOWLOON EAST STAR began awkwardly and shifted in abruptly, resulting in PRECISION GOAL losing ground when crowded for room outside TIMESTORM which became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by PRECISION GOAL. BEAT HOLLOW began awkwardly, shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of TIMESTORM, resulting in BEAT HOLLOW becoming unbalanced. DOUBLE SHOW shifted out at the start and hampered YOO YOO KNIGHT. SPARKLING KNIGHT began awkwardly, shifted in and bumped NUNCHUKS. At the 800 Metres, ORIENTAL SPIRIT and RATTAN WORLD bumped, resulting in RATTAN WORLD becoming unbalanced and shifting out. Then passing the 800 Metres, RATTAN WORLD shifted out and bumped the hindquarters of NUNCHUKS. Near the 650 Metres, RATTAN WORLD was steadied when crowded for room between ORIENTAL SPIRIT and NUNCHUKS which was taken out by PRECISION GOAL which, when improving into tight running between NUNCHUKS and SPARKLING KNIGHT, was taken in by SPARKLING KNIGHT which shifted in away from the heels of KOWLOON EAST STAR. In the middle stages, KOWLOON EAST STAR got its head on the side and lay in. After the 300 Metres, CHILLI BABA improved into tight running between SPARKLING KNIGHT and KOWLOON EAST STAR which continued to lay in under pressure. CHILLI BABA then became unbalanced when crowded for room between KOWLOON EAST STAR which shifted in and SPARKLING KNIGHT which was taken out by NUNCHUKS which was racing tight to the outside of INNOCONSTRUCTION. In this incident, CHILLI BABA bumped the hindquarters of KOWLOON EAST STAR which became unbalanced. Passing the 250 Metres, SOARING PENGSHAN (M L Yeung) lay in away from FLYING HIGH and inconvenienced BEAT HOLLOW. BEAT HOLLOW then raced tight between SOARING PENGSHAN and YOO YOO KNIGHT (C L Chau) which itself was racing tight inside DOUBLE SHOW. Then after the 200 Metres, BEAT HOLLOW was crowded between SOARING PENGSHAN and YOO YOO KNIGHT which resulted in BEAT HOLLOW bumping the hindquarters of SOARING PENGSHAN which got its head on the side and shifted out abruptly, causing BEAT HOLLOW to be checked. Whilst the Stewards were of the opinion that this incident occurred primarily as a result of SOARING PENGSHAN shifting out when unbalanced, nonetheless M L Yeung and C L Chau were advised to do their utmost to prevent their mounts from shifting ground in similar circumstances. Approaching and passing the 150 Metres, RATTAN WORLD raced in restricted room when attempting to improve between DOUBLE SHOW and ORIENTAL SPIRIT. Over the concluding stages, INNOCONSTRUCTION lay out under pressure. After the race, INNOCONSTRUCTION was noted to have sustained a small laceration to the tongue. A veterinary inspection of BEAT HOLLOW immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. A veterinary inspection of ORIENTAL SPIRIT, PRECISION GOAL and DOUBLE SHOW immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. CHILLI BABA and INNOCONSTRUCTION were sent for sampling.