21/05/2023  Shatin  Race 5

FOREVER FOLKS and TATTENHAM jumped only fairly. GO GO SIXTEEN jumped awkwardly. CIRCUIT NINE was slow to begin. From the outside barrier, SURREALISM was shifted across behind runners in the early stages. Near the 800 Metres, FOREVER FOLKS commenced to race keenly and shifted out when being steadied away from ROUND THE EARTH, resulting in TELECOM CHEETAH being taken wider. TELECOM CHEETAH then raced wide and without cover thereafter. Between the 400 Metres and the 300 Metres, GOLD TACK was held up for clear running. For some distance after the 400 Metres, SURREALISM was shifted to the outside of ROUND THE EARTH to secure clear running and in doing so made contact with FOREVER FOLKS. Near the 200 Metres, TELECOM CHEETAH shifted in slightly and brushed GO GO SIXTEEN. Then over the concluding stages, TELECOM CHEETAH could not be fully ridden to the finish when its rider, H Bentley, was obliged to stop riding and straighten his mount when it again shifted in towards GO GO SIXTEEN. Near the 150 Metres, TURQUOISE ALPHA was shifted to the inside of INCANTO PREPARED to continue into clear running. Near the 50 Metres, TURQUOISE ALPHA was then shifted to the outside of GOLD TACK to again continue into clear running after being held up on that runner’s heels for a short distance. INCANTO PREPARED raced wide and without cover for the majority of the event. TURQUOISE ALPHA lost its right hind plate after the race. A veterinary inspection of GOLD TACK immediately following the race which included an endoscopic examination showed a substantial amount of mucus in the horse’s trachea. PAKISTAN FRIEND and ROUND THE EARTH were sent for sampling.