19/03/2023  Shatin  Race 2

BILLIONAIRE SECRET and BEAU GOSSE were slow to begin. LEATHER MASTER jumped only fairly, shifted in and made contact with LADY’S CHOICE, resulting in LADY’S CHOICE then shifting out and crowding LEATHER MASTER out across PEAK TO PEAK which was steadied after jumping awkwardly and being slow to begin. TOGEPI jumped awkwardly, resulting in its rider, H Bowman, becoming unbalanced. TOGEPI was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. From a wide barrier, LIFELINE VISION was also shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Between the 300 Metres and the 150 Metres, BEAU GOSSE was held up for clear running and then near the 150 Metres when being shifted out to obtain clear running, commenced to race greenly. A short distance later, BEAU GOSSE shifted out, crowding the running of LADY’S CHOICE. HA LEE CHARM raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event and lay in in the Straight and near the winning post was unable to be ridden out when placed to the inside of TOGEPI which shifted in. LADY’S CHOICE, which was following HA LEE CHARM, also could not be ridden out to the winning post. Prior to the declaration of weighed-in, A Hamelin, the rider of PROSECCO, 3rd placegetter, viewed the patrol films to ascertain if there were grounds for a protest/objection against TOP TOP TEA (Apprentice Y L Chung) being declared the winner following TOP TOP TEA shifting out passing the 300 Metres and again near the 150 Metres, crowding the running of PROSECCO. After considering the beaten margin in excess of ¾ length from TOP TOP TEA, A Hamelin declined to lodge a protest/objection and when the Stewards were satisfied that there were insufficient grounds to do so, weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge. Apprentice Chung was advised to stop riding and straighten his mounts sooner than he did on this occasion. When questioned, S De Sousa stated that PEAK TO PEAK was fractious in the barriers, jumped awkwardly and lost ground and then was hampered when crowded by LEATHER MASTER which shifted out, resulting in PEAK TO PEAK racing at the rear of the field. He added that soon after straightening he commenced to place his mount under pressure and shifted PEAK TO PEAK out to follow TOGEPI. He said PEAK TO PEAK was then awkwardly placed close to TOGEPI before being shifted to that runner’s inside near the 300 Metres to secure clear running whereby PEAK TO PEAK finished the race off reasonably well. When questioned if there was an opportunity to improve to the inside of TOGEPI and follow THE HULK, S De Sousa stated as he felt that TOGEPI was travelling better than the HULK at this point, he felt this was his best option in the circumstances. The explanation provided by S De Sousa was noted. After the race, BEAU GOSSE was noted to have sustained a wound to the left front leg. A veterinary inspection of THE HULK and PEAK TO PEAK immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. TOP TOP TEA and RATTAN KINGDOM were sent for sampling.