06/03/2011  Shatin  Race 9

NUGGET WARRIOR and WINE WIN began awkwardly. HEARTLINE was slow to begin. From wide barriers, SUPER BOY and HAPPY REUNION were taken across behind runners shortly after the start. In the Straight, HAPPY REUNION hung in. For the majority of the race, LONDON CHINA TOWN and CHATER MIKADO travelled wide and without cover. When questioned, Apprentice K C Leung advised that he had been instructed to ride NORMAN INVADER in a midfield position with cover if possible. He said in the early stages he attempted to obtain a position between HEARTLINE and ELEGANCE DESIRE, however, he was not able to maintain this position and consequently raced slightly further back in the field than had been intended. Trainer A S Cruz confirmed that he had asked Apprentice Leung to ride the horse in about midfield as he was of the opinion that had NORMAL INVADER been ridden to obtain a forward position, there was sufficient speed in the race to indicate that NORMAN INVADER may have been left racing wide. He said as the horse has a history of hanging out when positioned outside horses, he felt that it would be in NORMAN INVADER’s best interests for the horse to be ridden with cover and he felt that it would be able to get this position in midfield. RICH UNICORN and TAILWIND were sent for sampling.