08/01/2023  Shatin  Race 11

SUPERB CAPITALIST, which was fractious in the barriers, shifted out abruptly at the start and bumped PARTY WARRIOR which in turn shifted out, resulting in DRAGON’S LUCK being crowded for room inside BUNDLE OF CHARM which became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by DRAGON’S LUCK. GLUCK RACER was steadied on jumping and shifted across behind runners to obtain cover. TEAM SPIRIT and CIRCUIT MIGHTY bumped at the start. In this incident, TEAM SPIRIT lost its left front plate. In the early stages, PHOENIX LIGHT was steadied to obtain a position closer to the rail from a wide barrier. Also in the early stages, MIGHTY STRIDE raced with its head on the side and lay in. Near the 1150 Metres, PARTY WARRIOR lost ground when crowded for room between DRAGON’S LUCK which was racing tight inside BUNDLE OF CHARM and SUPERB CAPITALIST which shifted out away from MIGHTY STRIDE and then shifted further after becoming unbalanced as a result of being bumped on the hindquarters by PARTY WARRIOR. After initially being ridden along from the outside barrier to obtain a forward position, CIRCUIT MIGHTY was steadied after the 1100 Metres to obtain cover. Approaching the 600 Metres, DRAGON’S LUCK raced tight between MIGHTY STRIDE and TEAM SPIRIT. Passing the 600 Metres, MIGHTY STRIDE got its head up when awkwardly placed behind SUPERB CAPITALIST. Also passing the 600 Metres, PHOENIX LIGHT raced close to the heels of BUNDLE OF CHARM when racing tight between BEAUTY TURN and CIRCUIT MIGHTY. Passing the 400 Metres, PARTY WARRIOR was awkwardly placed behind MIGHTY STRIDE. After the 200 Metres, SUPERB CAPITALIST was eased away from the heels of SAKEWIN which shifted out. Throughout the race, TEAM SPIRIT travelled wide and without cover and in the Straight gave ground. When questioned, Z Purton stated that, in his opinion, SUPERB CAPITALIST had trialed only fairly when ridden by him in the lead up to today’s race. He said SUPERB CAPITALIST was very fractious in the barriers and after becoming unbalanced at the start, he was able to obtain a forward position on SUPERB CAPITALIST passing the 1000 Metres. He said whilst he had to make more use of SUPERB CAPITALIST than he had hoped, he was able to steady his mount in the middle stages which, in his opinion, offset the early work that he did on the horse. He added SUPERB CAPITALIST came under heavy pressure approaching the 300 Metres and then gave ground over the concluding stages. A veterinary inspection of SUPERB CAPITALIST immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. When questioned, K C Leung stated that he was instructed, if possible, to make his finishing run to the outside of horses on MIGHTY STRIDE. He said after racing towards the rail after the 500 Metres, he commenced to shift MIGHTY STRIDE out to follow SUPERB CAPITALIST as he believed that this would be a horse which would take him into the race. He said he was concerned that if he improved to the inside of SUPERB CAPITALIST rounding the Home Turn to follow SAKEWIN, he would not be following his instructions and further that given the manner in which SAKEWIN had been finishing its raced off recently, he believed that improving behind SUPERB CAPITALIST was the better option in the early part of the Straight. He added when SUPERB CAPITALIST did not quicken as anticipated, this resulted in MIGHTY STRIDE being badly held up for clear running until being able to be shifted to the outside of DRAGON’S LUCK after the 200 Metres. A veterinary inspection of BUNDLE OF CHARM and TEAM SPIRIT immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. SAKEWIN and MIGHTY STRIDE were sent for sampling.