05/02/2023  Shatin  Race 4

DARING PURSUIT was withdrawn on raceday morning by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, DARING PURSUIT will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. Whilst parading behind the barriers, PUBLICIST was kicked by another runner in the girth area. PUBLICIST was examined by the Veterinary Officer who said that in his opinion the horse was not suitable to race. Acting on this advice, PUBLICIST was withdrawn by order of the Stewards. Before being allowed to race again, PUBLICIST will be subjected to an official veterinary examination. SURE JOYFUL jumped awkwardly, shifted out and bumped UNIVERSAL HORIZON. From wide barriers, STRATHPEFFER and GENERAL WINNER were shifted across behind runners in the early stages. BROTHER PEARL was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages from a wide barrier and was inclined to get its head up and raced ungenerously when being steadied. Near the 900 Metres, DRAGON DELIGHT and SURE JOYFUL made contact due to DRAGON DELIGHT being steadied away from the heels of SIXTH GENERATION. After this, SURE JOYFUL raced very wide and without cover. MILLENNIUM FALCON raced very wide and without cover for the majority of the event and passing the 900 Metres was bumped by SURE JOYFUL which shifted out slightly. Approaching the 400 Metres, UNIVERSAL HORIZON shifted to the outside of SURE JOYFUL to commence a forward move and in doing so made contact with the hindquarters of MILLENNIUM FALCON which became momentarily unbalanced. Near the 200 Metres, STRATHPEFFER (M L Yeung) was shifted to the outside of INNO TECH WINNER to obtain clear running and then near the 100 Metres M L Yeung momentarily had his whip caught in his reins as he pulled it through to his right hand and also resulting in the right hand rein being dropped for the remainder of the event. Over the final 200 Metres, GENERAL WINNER lay in under pressure. Near the 150 Metres, D STAR was steadied to avoid the heels of SIXTH GENERATION which shifted in. After the race, H T Mo (INNO TECH WINNER) explained that it was not his instruction to lead today’s event but after beginning well, his mount held the lead without being unduly pressured in the early stages. A veterinary inspection of MILLENNIUM FALCON immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. SIXTH GENERATION and D STAR were sent for sampling.