The Stewards have interviewed Mr F C Lor, trainer of EN POINTE, regarding an application for that horse to race with sheepskin cheek pieces in the stated race. The Stewards also interviewed Jockey Z Purton regarding this matter. EN POINTE has won its two most recent starts at Sha Tin on 16 January 2022 and 12 February 2022 when racing just with a ring bit.

Mr Lor said that after its most recent win Z Purton expressed to him that the horse had not found the line over the concluding stages as a result of not changing lead legs at the necessary time and also losing concentration and laying in after reaching the lead. He said it was Z Purton’s opinion that EN POINTE was going to win the race relatively easily at its last start, however, had to be hard ridden over the latter stages of the race to win the race by a short margin. Mr Lor said that having regard to Jockey Purton’s advice, he applied sheepskin cheek pieces to the horse in its track work and the horse had worked satisfactorily with this piece of equipment applied. He said because of this he barrier trialed EN POINTE at Sha Tin on Friday, 25 February 2022 with the sheepskin check pieces applied and once again he was satisfied with the manner in which EN POINTE performed in that barrier trial.

Z Purton confirmed that he was concerned with the manner in which EN POINTE failed to finish its most recent race off as strongly as anticipated given the way it travelled into the race. He said the horse did not change lead legs despite his efforts and then after reaching the lead lay in under pressure and did not close the race off in a genuine manner. He said he recommended to Mr Lor to consider adding sheepskin cheek pieces to the horse’s gear rather than blinkers so that EN POINTE would not travel too keenly in the race. He stated that EN POINTE travelled strongly in the barrier trial conducted on 25 February 2022 when ridden by him but did not over-race and that when placed under pressure in the early part of the Straight EN POINTE changed lead legs and then finished the trial off well. He said based on the manner in which the horse performed at its last start as compared to the manner in which it barrier trialed, he was of the belief that EN POINTE would benefit from the addition of sheepskin cheek pieces in this race.

After having viewed the videos of EN POINTE’s recent starts, its barrier trial on 25 February 2022 and after having considered the evidence provided by Mr Lor and Jockey Purton, the Stewards acceded to Mr Lor’s request for sheepskin cheek pieces to be added to the gear to be worn by EN POINTE in this race.