Recap by phillip woo

Bear Again just held on for the win despite lugging out under pressure late straightening three lengths on top after shaking off a challenge from Smiling City but did have to fight off an inquiry. Well-backed King's Capital dashed well from towards the rear to make it a thriller on the wire. He was able to raise his game after winning two back over the 1,400m at Sha Tin. Favourite Smoothies ran on well after settling worse than midfield to finish a close third. He keeps promising but has trouble delivering. Everyone's Delight was badly impeded twice trying to go through a gap 50m out following a one-out, one-back run. He should have gone close to winning. Royal Bomb just held his ground to finish a non-threatening fifth following a prominent run on the fence. It was a slightly improved effort on a front-running failure last month at Sha Tin. Incanto Prepared came up flat over the last 100m after a midfield run on the fence. He's still working on his fitness but is also likely on his mark. Sacred Ibis never ran on without threatening down the outside after a deep run towards the rear from the widest gate. He didn't get things run to suit.

Racing Incident Report

Race Seven: (137) - SHANTOU HANDICAP - Class 3 - 1650Meters

When parading behind the barriers, the right ear plug fitted to INCANTO PREPARED was dislodged, resulting in that ear plug having to be refitted.

SMOOTHIES shifted out at the start, resulting in EVERYONE'S DELIGHT being taken out onto KING'S CAPITAL which was being steadied to obtain cover.

ROYAL BOMB began only fairly.

From the outside barriers, FARSHAD and SACRED IBIS were shifted across behind runners in the early stages.

Near the 550 Metres, SACRED IBIS was awkwardly placed outside the heels of SMOOTHIES which shifted to the outside of EVERYONE'S DELIGHT to improve.

After the 500 Metres, SMOOTHIES was bumped by EVERYONE'S DELIGHT which shifted to the outside of SMILING CITY which was commencing to give ground.

Rounding the Home Turn, KING'S CAPITAL was shifted out away from the heels of SMILING CITY.

The Stewards deferred the declaration of weighed-in as they were of the view that incidents occurred over the final 100 Metres which cast sufficient doubt on whether BEAR AGAIN should be declared the winner.

The Stewards found that whilst BEAR AGAIN shifted out a number of horses under pressure approaching and passing the 100 Metres, they could not be satisfied that either SMOOTHIES (Z Purton), which finished 3rd, or EVERYONE'S DELIGHT (A Badel), which finished 4th, would have finished in front of BEAR AGAIN if not for the movement from that horse and therefore they did not proceed to a formal protest/objection hearing and weighed-in was declared on the numbers notified by the Judge.

Whilst it had no bearing on the decision of the Stewards not to proceed to a formal protest/objection hearing, it should be noted that neither Z Purton nor A Badel lodged a protest/objection against BEAR AGAIN.

After the 150 Metres, EVERYONE'S DELIGHT shifted out and bumped SMOOTHIES when commencing to improve to the outside of BEAR AGAIN which shifted out under pressure.

B Shinn (BEAR AGAIN) pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding [Rule 100(1)] in that approaching and passing the 100 Metres he permitted his mount to shift out when not clear of EVERYONE'S DELIGHT, causing that horse to be badly hampered when crowded for room between BEAR AGAIN and SMOOTHIES.

In the circumstances, B Shinn was suspended from riding in races for a period to commence on Saturday, 13 November 2021 and to expire on Thursday, 18 November 2021 on which day he may resume race riding (2 Hong Kong racedays).

Close to the finishing line, EVERYONE'S DELIGHT was checked when crowded for room between BEAR AGAIN and SMOOTHIES which shifted in as a result of becoming unbalanced after being bumped by EVERYONE'S DELIGHT.

When changing the whip over into his right hand passing the 100 Metres, the whip carried by C L Chau (KING'S CAPITAL) became momentarily caught in the reins.

After the race, M F Poon was not able to offer any explanation for the manner in which SMILING CITY gave ground in the Straight.

He said the horse travelled satisfactorily in a forward position in the early and middle stages, however, came under heavy pressure after the 500 Metres and then did not finish off the race.

A veterinary inspection of SMILING CITY immediately following the race did not show any significant findings.

After the race, an endoscopic examination was conducted on SMOOTHIES at the request of Trainer C S Shum.

The Veterinary Surgeon said this examination showed a substantial amount of blood in the horse's trachea.

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

SMOOTHIES, BEAR AGAIN and KING'S CAPITAL were sent for sampling.