'If he can continue to improve, then he might win a few more'
Danny Shum Chap-shing hopes the "crazy" Floral Man can get over his aversion to being walked on a lead to the Sha Tin saddling area, but until then his work rider will have to do the honours. Floral Man (Olivier Doeluze) won the Panasonic Momi-Momi Massage Lounger Handicap, but the nervous moments for the trainer were all pre-race. "He is always getting away, when we have to lead him, it is lucky he hasn't been hurt," Shum said. "For now, we have to put the saddle on him and ride him over. Maybe in a couple of starts, if he can calm down, we can lead him like a normal horse. He is getting better slowly, and if he can continue to improve, I think he might win a few more times." Michael Cox
Seven-pound claim makes all the difference in winning
My Memory got his favoured sole lead and had everything go his way from a low gate in the Class Five opener, but still only managed to hang on by the barest of margins, with trainer Peter Ng Bik-kuen declaring Alvin Ng Ka-chun's claim critical to the outcome. An unlucky General Danroad (Zac Purton) seemed to have nabbed Ng's seven-year-old on the line, but My Memory prevailed in a deceptive finish. "The seven pounds was the difference between winning and losing," the trainer added. "He is an older horse now, and he needs all the help he can get. He is the right sort of horse to use the claim. The kid rated him well in front and that's how he should be ridden." Michael Cox
Freelancers Wong and So land in hot water with stipes
Local freelancers Terry Wong Chi-wai and Ben So Tik-hung will shortly join the list of the suspended jockeys with careless-riding penalties out of races six and eight, but the Jockey Club will soon be flush with jockeys. Richard Fourie has a suspension holding over till the end of the month, while Jacky Tong Chi-kit and Eddy Lai Wai- ming start bans this Thursday. Umberto Rispoli and Tom Queally are set to begin short term stints by the beginning of December and a tweak on Friday to Neil Callan's licensing has brought his arrival forward to the November 28 meeting. Callan will also be the fix to John Moore's problems in getting enough suitable riders for all his entries in the Jockey Club Mile, Sprint and Cup next week. Alan Aitken
