02/04/2023  Shatin  Race 1

DRAGON ADMIRAL was withdrawn on 31.3.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (left front tendon injury) and was replaced by 2nd Standby Declared Starter PLENTY PLENTY (L Ferraris). STORMTROUPER, 1st Standby Declared Starter, was also withdrawn on 31.3.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (coughing and mucus on scoping after trackwork). CHILL WAY was withdrawn on 1.4.23 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore). Before being allowed to race again, DRAGON ADMIRAL, STORMTROUPER and CHILL WAY will all be subjected to an official veterinary examination. FLAMINGO TRILLION was bumped on jumping by CRYSTAL POWERFUL which shifted out. VANQUISHER jumped only fairly and then shortly after the start was checked when crowded between DASHING GLORY and FIGHTING STAR which was taken in by DUBLIN STAR which also jumped only fairly and was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. SUPER CONTENTED jumped only fairly and then was crowded by JOY COMING which blundered and shifted in. SUPER CONTENTED was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. SIMPLE HEDGE was slow to begin and was then shifted across behind runners in the early stages. When placed under pressured in the Straight, SIMPLE HEDGE was inclined to lay in. Shortly after the start, PLENTIFUL, which jumped awkwardly, shifted in and as a result bumped the hindquarters of FLAMINGO TRILLION, resulting in PLENTIFUL becoming unbalanced and losing ground. Near the 600 Metres, WATCH BUDDY was crowded between VANQUISHER and FLAMINGO TRILLION, both of which shifted ground slightly. WATCH BUDDY was then held up when racing tight to the inside of FLAMINGO TRILLION for some distance making the Home Turn. On straightening, PLENTIFUL, which was inclined to lay in, was shifted to the inside of JOY COMING to secure clear running. PLENTIFUL then continued to lay in when being ridden out in the Straight and near the 250 Metres shifted in and was checked to avoid the heels of JOY COMING, resulting in PLENTIFUL becoming unbalanced and losing ground. JOY COMING and FIGHTING STAR raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. After the race, S De Sousa (DUBLIN STAR) reported that his mount hung in in the Straight and proved difficult to ride out. When questioned regarding his riding in the Straight, K Teetan (FLAMINGO TRILLION) stated that his mount was inclined to lay in throughout the event. He said from the 500 Metres he endeavoured to maintain a position to the outside of PLENTIFUL, however, when his mount continued to lay in, he was obliged to correct his mount to hold that position. He added that soon after straightening when PLENTIFUL shifted to the outside of JOY COMING to secure clear running, FLAMINGO TRILLION, which continued to lay in, then proved reluctant to shift to the outside of PLENTIFUL and for this reason he became held up behind PLENTIFUL. He further added that as his mount was continuing to lay in and was not responding to his urgings to shift to the outside of PLENTIFUL, he elected to allow FLAMINGO TRILLION to shift in whereby he attempted to secure clear running between CRYSTAL POWERFUL and JOY COMING near the 250 Metres. He said as he endeavoured to improve into this narrow run, both JOY COMING and CRYSTAL POWERFUL shifted ground slightly which resulted in the run closing and FLAMINGO TRILLION having to be checked when disappointed for this run near the 150 Metres. He said from this point FLAMINGO TRILLION lost momentum, was held up for clear running and could not be fully tested to the finish of the event. After considering the explanation offered by Jockey Teetan and taking into account the racing manners of FLAMINGO TRILLION, the Stewards found the tactics adopted by him were reasonable in the circumstances. A veterinary inspection of FLAMINGO TRILLION immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. A veterinary inspection of PLENTIFUL immediately following the race did not show any significant findings. FLAMINGO TRILLION, EASY SNIP and WATCH BUDDY were sent for sampling.