Recap by phillip woo

Trust Me found the front and kept up a strong gallop for the win after straightening two lengths on top. He has put the writing on the wall last start over this Sha Tin trip. Firming to jump an odds-on favourite Brilliant Way ran on well after straightening three from the right to take second 200m out without menacing the winner after a one-off run worse than midfield. He's made a good impression in his two starts and will be winning shortly. Eligere came from well back at the head of the straight and widest out to fill a placing. He's not genuine. Celestial Steed stayed on well for fourth after a one-off run better than midfield. It was a good effort on debut. Happy Day ran on well to just miss the frame after biding his time among the backmarkers. He might be crying out for an extra 200m after catching the eye in his two 1,200m runs. Leslie was short of room at times straightening near the inside after a two-to-three wide run with cover run better than midfield from a tricky gate. Miracle Victory had nothing to offer over the final 200m after a pace-stalking run. A further rise in weight after back-to-back wins took its toll. Gracylove was deemed a runner despite badly missing the start.

Racing Incident Report

Race Six: (458) - SHEK MUN HANDICAP - Class 4 - 1200Meters

MOMENTUM GALAXY was withdrawn on 26.2.22 by order of the Stewards acting on veterinary advice (lame left fore) and was replaced by Standby Declared Starter FORTUNE MARBO (M L Yeung).

Before being allowed to race again, MOMENTUM GALAXY will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

MIRACLE VICTORY lifted its front feet off the ground as the start was effected and then was crowded for room on jumping between BRILLIANT WAY and CALIFORNIA VANES which shifted in.

FORTUNE MARBO shifted out at the start and bumped ELIGERE.

SWIFT SPIRIT and CASA LEGEND were also steadied from wide barriers to obtain cover.

After travelling a short distance, HAPPY DAY was crowded for room between CALIFORNIA VANES and MANY WINS, both of which shifted ground.

In this incident, MANY WINS became unbalanced after being bumped on the hindquarters by HAPPY DAY.

Passing the 600 Metres, CASA LEGEND raced tight outside BRILLIANT WAY which improved to the outside of LESLIE.

LESLIE was held up for clear running passing the 500 Metres.

Rounding the Home Turn, SWIFT SPIRIT was awkwardly placed behind FORTUNE MARBO and then at the entrance to the Straight was shifted out away from the heels of that horse to obtain clear running.

Throughout the race, CALIFORNIA VANES and FORTUNE MARBO travelled wide and without cover.

When questioned, K Teetan (ELIGERE) stated that from the outside barrier he was asked to shift his mount across behind runners in the early stages and obtain a position with cover.

He said after steadying his mount in the early stages ELIGERE commenced to lose ground of its own accord passing the 1300 Metres.

He said he therefore had to ride his mount along to ensure that it did not get out of its ground and that despite being ridden along throughout the early and middle stages ELIGERE was reluctant to improve its position.

He said he rode the horse more aggressively after the 600 Metres as ELIGERE was not improving its position.

He added that despite being aggressively ridden ELIGERE was initially reluctant to make ground and it was not until near the 300 Metres when he was able to shift the horse to the outside of runners that ELIGERE commenced to finish the race off.

He said he continued to ride the horse out over the concluding stages and ELIGERE then closed the race off strongly.

The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in whilst they considered if GRACYLOVE (B Shinn) had been afforded a fair start.

After viewing the videos together with B Shinn, it was established that after being loaded into the barriers GRACYLOVE became fractious before then standing satisfactorily.

As the start was effected, GRACYLOVE again became fractious, resulting in the horse becoming badly unbalanced and turning its head to the left and into the adjoining stall which resulted in GRACYLOVE losing a significant amount of ground and taking no part in the race.

As the Stewards formed the view that GRACYLOVE had caused its own problems by becoming fractious and that as the start was effected the horse was standing satisfactorily, GRACYLOVE was afforded a fair start and accordingly weighed-in was declared on the numbers semaphored by the Judge.

Before being allowed to race again, GRACYLOVE will be required to perform satisfactorily in a barrier trial.

After the race, it was reported that MANY WINS had sustained a laceration to the right hind leg.

Before being allowed to race again, MANY WINS will be subjected to an official veterinary examination.

A veterinary inspection of CALIFORNIA VANES immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

TRUST ME and BRILLIANT WAY were sent for sampling.