07/10/2009  Happy Valley  Race 4

At the start, ROYAL PORTRAIT and LUCKY TYCOON were tightened for room between FIRST BABY and CARE FREE MIDAS which shifted out. In this incident, ROYAL PORTRAIT was steadied away from the heels of CARE FREE MIDAS and lost ground. Approaching the winning post on the first occasion, LUCKY TYCOON, which had initially drawn outside OCTAGONAL CANYON and was attempting to obtain a run to the inside of that horse, was checked away from the heels of OCTAGONAL CANYON when that horse shifted in slightly. No further action was taken. In the early stages, WIN MORE travelled wide and without cover. Passing the 1100 Metres, SUPERNOVA and LUCKY TYCOON raced tight inside FIRST BABY. Then near the 1000 Metres, SUPERNOVA was momentarily crowded for room inside LUCKY TYCOON which after being taken in by FIRST BABY shifted in away from that horse of its own accord. After the 900 Metres, REGENCY KINGDOM was left racing wide and without cover. When questioned regarding the tactics adopted on FLORAL IMAGE tonight, Trainer C S Shum stated that he had instructed Y T Cheng, the rider of the horse, to attempt to obtain a position behind the leaders with cover if possible. He said that from barrier 10, if the horse was ridden in a midfield position, as it was last start, it may be left racing wide. He said for this reason he felt it was in the best interests of FLORAL IMAGE to go forward and attempt to obtain a forward position, but with cover if possible. He said that when FLORAL IMAGE was caught wide on the track passing the winning post on the first occasion, Jockey Cheng was left with no option but to press forward on the horse. The Stewards advised Mr Shum that they would monitor the tactics adopted on FLORAL IMAGE in its upcoming starts and he must, wherever possible, issue instructions on a consistent basis. REGENCY KINGDOM, ROYAL PORTRAIT and SUPERNOVA were sent for sampling.