Séance peu ordinaire hier matin quand deux chutes spectaculaires ont retenu l?attention des turfistes. Hold The Fort et Spillway, respectivement des écuries Gujadhur et Ramdour, ont chuté au 2400m. Si le coursier de l?écurie Gujadhur, Hold The Fort (photos), a succombé sur la piste, Spillway, lui, a dû être euthanasié après avoir regagné l?écurie. En Hold The Fort, l?écurie Gujadhur perd un coursier valable qui aurait pu tirer, à son meilleur niveau, son épingle du jeu sur des parcours allongés.

Hold The Fort, sous la selle de Dinesh Sooful, s?est présenté hier matin en piste en compagnie de Pardon A Prince. Les deux chevaux sont mis à un travail poussé avec Hold The Fort à l?intérieur. Et c?est en regagnant le paddock alors qu?il se trouvait dans le railing post que Hold The Fort, victime d?un malaise, a désarçonné son cavalier avant de heurter de plein fouet les barres extérieures de la grande piste et s?écrouler sur le gazon. Le hongre bai brun de l?écurie Gujadhur tenta tant bien que mal à se relever, mais il devait succomber.

Hold The Fort, qui est chez nous depuis 2005, a remporté une course lors de la Journée internationale avec un certain Dominique Boeuf cette même année. Il avait même participé au Maiden durant sa première année sur notre turf. Il préparait activement son retour à la compétition cette saison après avoir connu des ennuis de santé.

De son côté, Spillway a chuté lourdement après un essai aux stalles. Son cavalier, Vishal Venkaya, a été violemment projeté à terre et il a été conduit immédiatement à la City Clinic où il a été constaté qu?il avait subi une blessure au pied, ce qui aura nécessité la pose de quelques points de suture. Le cheval Spillway, de son côté, a pu regagner son écurie, mais il a été euthanasié par la suite.

Naseeb KOREEAWA

Manque de réussite

L?écurie Merven remercie Bekker

Après Robbie Hill qui avait reçu, lundi, sa feuille de route de l?écurie Perdrau, c?est au tour de Johanes Bekker d?être limogé par l?écurie Merven. Du reste, le cavalier sud-africain ne s?était pas présenté à l?entraînement hier. Johannes Bekker n?a pas enregistré la moindre victoire pour son écurie depuis le début de la saison.

L?écurie Merven ? qui est toujours à la recherche d?une première victoire ? songe à engager un jockey étranger dans deux ou trois semaines. ?C?est tout simplement un manque de réussite qui nous a poussés à mettre un terme à notre association. Nous entretenons de bonnes relations avec Bekker, mais les résultats n?arrivaient pas et il a fallu prendre une décision. C?est sûr que nous allons recruter quelqu?un d?autre, mais cela ne se fera pas avant deux ou trois semaines?, a déclaré à l?express, hier, l?entraîneur Patrick Merven.

Par ailleurs, Yashin Emamdee aura à payer une amende de Rs 10 000 pour avoir utilisé sa cravache de façon contraire aux règlements après la quatrième course. Il a été trouvé coupable d?avoir infligé un coup de cravache à Ashton Manor au niveau de la bouche à sa rentrée au paddock.

Quant à Vinay Naiko, il a été sanctionné pour careless riding dans la course de clôture alors qu?il pilotait Tambour Battant.

Il a causé une interférence avec Palatino au 1300m. Il a écopé d?une amende de Rs 20 000.

N. K.

Racing stewards? report

■ RACE 1 ? THE IAN MCLEOD CUP

Pigeon Post stumbled badly at the start and Bobby?s Boy was slow out, both losing about one length. Don?s Fire jumped inwards, brushing Pigeon Post. At an inquiry into an incident, jockey Bhaugeerothee (Four Wood) pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 161 (c) in that near the 1365 metres, he improperly took his horse in when insufficiently clear of National Trade, thereby jeopardising his own security, the security of fellow riders and of horses. Furthermore, he improperly took his horse in when insufficiently clear of New Recruit, causing jockey Mahadia to check his mount in anticipation. Jockey Bhaugeerothee was suspended from riding in two races reserved for Mauritian riders. In the back straight National Trade raced off the fence. Jockey Teeha was told to race closer to the fence when in a position to do so. Voodoo Child raced wide on the final turn. Jockey Venkaya (Don?s Fire) accidentally dropped his whip near the 300 metres. The Club?s Veterinary Surgeon reported that Pigeon Post had a deep cut to the near flank and a deep cut to the off fore pastern. In view of this, trainer V. Allet was told that this horse will need a veterinary certificate of fitness before being allowed to race again.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Bobby?s Boy prior to the race and from Guzerat after the race.

■ RACE 2 ? THE GLENSHIRE CUP

The Club?s Veterinary Surgeon reported that Extreme Force was coughing and was unfit to race. Consequently, the horse was withdrawn at 7.45 a.m. on Friday. As a result, all bets on this horse were ordered to be refunded and betting with bookmakers was re-opened. Trainer V. Allet was told that Extreme Force will need a veterinary certificate of soundness before being allowed to race again. With the withdrawal of Extreme Force, Road Rover became a runner and was ridden by jockey V. Bundhoo. At the start Superagente, which was leaning on the left side of the gate, was slow out and jumped outwards and Mr. Millionaire was also slow out, both losing about one length. From the 1300 metres to the 600 metres, Alarming Swing raced fiercely and had to be steadied off the heels of Vigliodor. River Siren raced wide throughout. From the 400 metres Romp In The Forum hung in badly and passing the 300 metres brushed Express Mail and in the final straight tried to be taken out off the heels of Alarming Swing and could not be

properly assisted. Jockey Herholdt (Alarming Swing) lost his off rein over the final 75 metres. The Club?s Veterinary Surgeon reported that River Siren broke down its off fore suspensory ligament. In view of this, trainer S. Ramdour was told that this horse will need a veterinary certificate of soundness before being allowed to race again.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Express Mail, Seventh Scroll and River Siren prior to the race and from Vigliodor after the race.

■ RACE 3 ? THE HEDGES & BUTLER CUP

At the start Ashton Manor jumped awkwardly, was slow out, losing about one length and hung out on the first turn, proving very difficult to control. Passing the 300 metres Fleeing South shifted in slightly, at the same time Harriman (V. Naiko) was taken in, resulting in Joshua Day on its inside having to be steadied. Jockey Naiko was shown the video and told to exercise care when shifting ground. At the 150 metres Harriman was taken out off the heels of African Ambassador and Fleeing South shifted in slightly, brushing Harriman. At an inquiry into an incident, Jockey Emamdee was charged under Rule 161 (e) in that upon entering the paddock after the race, he struck horse Ashton Manor on the mouth, thus using his whip in an improper manner. Jockey Emamdee was fined Rs 10,000.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from African Ambassador prior to and after the race.

■ RACE 4 ? THE LORD NELSON CUP

At the start Wolfpack jumped inwards and bumped Stormy Boy. Passing the 300 metres, Wolfpack (Brown) shifted in despite its jockey?s attempt to straighten it, resulting in Optima Maximo, which was following, having to be eased. When questioned about the riding tactics of Wolfpack, Mr. Rameshwar Gujadhur stated that he had told his jockey to ride it as at its last start, which was mid-field. Jockey Brown explained that since the horse jumped awkwardly, when he elected to take it in, he found himself further back than anticipated. His explanations were accepted. When questioned as to why shortly after the start, horse Oisin Breeze was not taken to the fence behind Yankee Bell, trainer H. Maigrot explained that if Monomotapa was allowed to race freely in front, it would be very difficult to beat, so he instructed his jockey to jump and stay as close to him and in front of Yankee Bell if possible. Jockey Orffer was asked that in hindsight after 100 metres, whether it would have been preferable to settle behind Yankee Bell rather than run wide. He replied that he would have had to ease his horse, thus break its stride in order to do so, which would not have been beneficial to his mount. His explanations were accepted.

Routine urine specimen was taken for analysis from Noble Dancer prior to the race.

■ RACE 5 ? THE KING ROBERT II CUP

Flavius raced fiercely from shortly after the start to the 1300 metres. Routine urine specimen was taken for analysis from Tabascorez after the race.

■ RACE 6 ? THE SCOTT CUP

At the start Borzov stumbled. Passing the 1300 metres Bold Plum, which was racing fiercely, was eased off the heels of Make No Mistake. Passing the 300 metres Bold Plum shifted in and brushed the running rail, resulting in the latter becoming unbalanced over a few strides. Passing the 300 metres, Make No Mistake, when attempting a run into a narrow gap on the inside of Borzov, was taken back in by the latter. Cazam, which was following, had to be checked off the heels of Make No Mistake. When questioned regarding the poor performance of National Express, trainer S. Ramdin stated that the horse had worked well during the week leading up to the race and that he expected a good run from the latter but he was very disappointed with its performance today. Jockey Joorawon stated that unlike its two previous starts where the horse raced fiercely and had a tendency to hang in slightly in the race, he was this time very lethargic during the race and failed to quicken when asked to do so. A subsequent veterinary examination of the horse revealed no abnormality.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Hero?s Hope prior to the race and from Bold Plum after the race.

■ RACE 7 ? THE KING ROBERT II GIN CUP

Jockey Emamdee, who was sick, was stood down by the Club?s Doctor and was replaced on Turtleback by jockey S. Rama. Upon jumping jockey Joorawon?s elbow brushed the right side of the gate. After being examined by the Doctor, he was stood down for the 8th race. At the start St. Austell and The Duke Of Dixie were slow out, both losing about one length and The Duke Of Dixie was slow into stride. Light Path raced fiercely from the 1400 to the 600 metres. Game Lodge raced wide on the final turn and Royal Lineage raced wide throughout. Near the 150 metres St. Austell was taken in off the heels of Turtleback and approaching the 100 metres was taken in off the heels of Mudslide Slim in order to obtain a clear run.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from St. Austell and Light Path prior to the race and from Stormy Front prior to and after the race.

■ RACE 8 ? THE EDOUARD DESBLEDS PLATE

Jockey Joorawon, who was declared to replace jockey Emamdee on Palatino, was injured at the right elbow while leaving the gate in the seventh race. He was therefore replaced by jockey Sooful on Palatino. At the start Undisputed and Judgement Call jumped outwards, brushing Soul Power and Go Spook respectively. Red Rooney was cramped for room shortly after the start between Link-Up and Super Edge and had to be eased. At an inquiry into an incident, jockey Naiko (Tambour Battant) was found guilty of a charge under rule 161 (c) in that passing the 1300 metres he carelessly allowed his mount to shift in, resulting in Palatino on its inside becoming cramped for room and having to be checked. Jockey Naiko was fined Rs 20,000. Super Edge and Piper?s Promise raced wide on the first turn. The Club?s Veterinary Surgeon reported that Super Edge was not striding out properly after the race. In view of this, trainer S. Ramdour was told that this horse will need a veterinary certificate of soundness before being allowed to race again.

Alain ROUSSET Chairman of Racing Stewards