Toutes les données étaient en faveur du représentant de l’écurie Fok. Avec sa première ligne et un bon départ, il prit les commandes de la course pour ensuite résister jusqu’au bout. “Century Lad nous inquiétait quelque peu avant la course. C’est un cheval qui a du pas mais lorsque j’ai pris la course en main, les choses étaient en notre faveur”, devait déclarer François Herholdt.

Sa deuxième victoire, il l’a épinglée grâce à Bold Plum. Ce coursier qui en était à sa première sortie chez nous a causé la surprise dans la septième course. Avec un lourd handicap de 59.5 kg et sa ligne extérieure, l’état-major de l’écurie Fok ne s’attendait pas à une aussi bonne course de sa part. “Bold Plum m’a laissé une très bonne impression. Ce coursier pourrait être très utile à l’écurie Fok sur un parcours allongé.” François Herholdt se dit très heureux d’avoir pu démarrer sa nouvelle association avec l’écurie Fok avec un doublé, mais il estime que les mérites reviennent surtout aux dirigeants de son établissement. “Je suis arrivé à la dernière minute. Je n’ai fait que suivre les instructions de mon entraîneur. Toute l’équipe de l’écurie Fok mérite ces deux succès.”

Avec l’absence de Jeffrey Lloyd, François Herholdt est promis à une belle saison 2006 sous les couleurs de l’écurie Fok. Bien que nous ne soyons qu’à la cinquième journée, François Herholdt a déjà une visée sur la Journée internationale et reste un des sérieux prétendants au titre de Champion Jockey cette année.

RACING STEWARDS’ REPORT

<B>RACE 1 – THE HESKETH BELL CUP</B>

At the start, Blushing Moon and Teddy’s Last jumped with their heads up in the air. Corwin was slow out, losing about one length. Shortly after the start Rodin shifted out, bumping Bobby’s Boy, causing the latter to be cramped for room and having to be eased. Passing the 1200 metres Corwin, which was racing fiercely, was taken out, taking Teddy’s Last wider. From the 400 metres, Corwin hung out under pressure, Bobby’s Boy, which was following, was slightly inconvenienced over some distance. Upon entering the final straight Blushing Moon was taken out off the heels of Royal Blaze in order to obtain a clear run, carrying Bobby’s Boy wider, resulting in the latter racing wide into the straight. Jockey Rama was shown the video of the incident and told to exercise care at all times. Shortly after entering the final straight, Gdansk shifted out under pressure and In A Heart Beat shifted in slightly and had to be taken out for a clear run. Jockey Rama reported that Blushing Moon raced fiercely throughout the race. Jockey Emamdee (Rodin) reported that his mount raced greenly throughout the race. The Club’s Veterinary Surgeon reported that Corwin was very lame in the off fore leg. In view of this, trainer S. Henry 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 Gdansk, Spinning Honor and Royal Blaze prior to the race and from In A Heart Beat prior to and after the race.

<B> RACE 2 – THE ALFRED GELLE CUP</B>

At the start, Kaleidoscope stood flatfooted and Playing Possum jumped awkwardly, both horses losing about one length. From the 1400 metres Kaleidoscope raced fiercely off the heels of Innkeeper for a short distance and again from the 800 to the 700 metres when the latter, which was racing fiercely, was eased off the heels of Orace Barfoot. From the 400 metres, Keen To Win had a tendency to hang out and was taken back in. From the 250 metres, Mudslide Slim was taken out for a clear run and made the turn into the final straight wide and from there had a tendency to hang in. Passing the 100 metres Real Schlep shifted in from Keen To Win, on its outside, and Orace Barfoot shifted out over some distance, resulting in Real Schlep having to be checked. Jockey Whitmore was shown the video of the incident and told to exercise more care in future.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Kaleidoscope, Keen To Win, Playing Possum and Don’s fire prior to the race and from Innkeeper prior to and after the race.

<B>RACE 3 – THE J. ANDRE KOENIG CUP</B>

At the start Royal Archer half-reared. Century Lad jumped outwards and Dr. Goodfeel jumped inwards, taking Emjaybee onto Royal Archer, resulting in the latter being cramped for room and having to be checked. One For The Road raced fiercely from the 1200 metres to the 500 metres and when being settled threw its head up over some distance. Emjaybee raced wide from the 400 metres. Royal Archer raced wide on the final turn and upon entering the final straight was taken out off the heels of Emjaybee in order to obtain a clear run. Entering the final straight Misty Gold was disappointed for a run on the inside of Century Lad and had to be severely checked and taken out. Passing the 100 metres Tambour Battant was taken out off the heels of Seeking The Gold in order to obtain a clear run.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Arabian Scent, Emjaybee, Seeking the Gold, Tambour Battant, Royal Archer and Century Lad prior to the race and from One For The Road after the race.

<B>RACE 4 – THE PIERRE HUGNIN CUP</B>

At the start, Nautilus jumped outwards brushing Dandy Rouge. From the 1100 metres, when the pace slowed, Finbar Finnegan started racing fiercely and was taken out off the heels of Dandy Rouge and raced fiercely up to the 500 metres. At an inquiry into an incident, jockey Emamdee (T.Rex) pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 161 (c) in that passing the 1300 metres he carelessly allowed his mount to shift in, resulting in Dandy Rouge on his inside being taken in and Nautilus, which was racing on the inside of Dandy Rouge, being

cramped for room and having to be severely checked. He was fined Rs 20,000. At an inquiry into the running and riding of Forest Flag, trainer S. Henry stated that he thought there would be quite a lot of pace in the race due to the presence of horses like Dandy Rouge and Finbar Finnegan, as a result he had instructed his jockey to try to follow close to the pace without taking his mount out of its pace and wait for as long as possible to try and obtain the inside run in the final straight as both Dandy Rouge and Finbar Finnegan had a tendency to hang out in the final straight. Jockey Whitmore added that he had followed the instructions to the letter and that passing the 300 metres, when Finbar Finnegan started kicking away, he decided against taking his mount out in order to follow the latter as he felt Forest Flag was not travelling well enough, hence he decided to wait for either an inside run or one between Finbar Finnegan and Dandy Rouge. He added that upon entering the final straight, a gap opened between Dandy Rouge and Finbar Finnegan; from then on he rode his mount with his usual vigour to the finish. The explanations were accepted.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Forest Flag prior to the race and from T.Rex after the race.

<B>RACE 5 – THE BADINAGE MERVEN CUP</B>

At the start Go The Roman was slow out, losing about one length and Light Scuffle jumped outwards, resulting in Brandy-Pawnee being slightly inconvenienced and losing its position. Approaching the 1200 metres Have Mercy was cramped for room and had to be eased over a short distance when Doobblee shifted in. Jockey Hill was shown the video of the incident and told to exercise care at all times. When Jockey Joorawon is available, an inquiry will be held into an incident which occurred to his mount Rambo Royale near the 1200 metres. Near the 400 metres the saddle on Rambo Royale slipped sideways, resulting in jockey Joorawon becoming badly unbalanced and being nearly dislodged. To avoid jockey Joorawon, who might have fallen, jockey Sooful (Have Mercy) took his horse out, resulting in Brandy-Pawnee, which was improving on the outside, being taken wider. From thereon, jockey Joorawon rode the horse with both feet out of the stirrups. He was taken to hospital after the race for medical examination. Accordingly, an inquiry will be opened into the incident when jockey Joorawon is available. Brandy-Pawnee hung in from the 400 metres and before entering the final straight, shifted in and brushed Have Mercy despite jockey Herholdt’s attempt to straighten it.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Light Scuffle prior to and after the race.

<B>RACE 6 – THE JOSEPH MERVEN CUP</B>

At an inquiry into an incident, Jockey Hill (Brooke’s Express) was found guilty under rule 161(c) in that near the 450 metres he carelessly took his mount in thereby brushing National Manner on his inside resulting in the latter becoming cramped for room, having to be

checked and brushing the running rail He was fined Rs 10,000. An inquiry was held into the running and riding of Brooke’s Express, after taking evidence from jockey Hill and trainer

A. Perdrau, jockey Hill was found guilty of a charge under rule 161 (f) in that being the rider of Brooke’s Express, although this horse had a tendency to hang in in the final straight, he, without good cause, failed to ride it with more vigour. He was fined Rs 25,000.

Routine urine specimen was taken for analysis from Rodriques after the race.

<B>RACE 7 – THE HENRI GENEVE CUP</B>

Jockey Rama replaced jockey Joorawon on Thunder Valley. At the start, New Recruit jumped with its head up and Tickle My Cluster jumped awkwardly, both horses being slow out and losing about one length. From the 1200 metres National Express started racing fiercely, throwing its head sideways when being settled and approaching the 900 metres, was taken out off the heels of Bold Plum. Destination, which was following, was slightly inconvenienced and had to be steadied over a short distance. From the 600 metres, New Recruit hung in very badly and in the final straight could not be properly assisted. National Express raced wide on the final turn. The Club’s Veterinary Surgeon reported that New Recruit was short in the off fore leg. In view of this, trainer B. Gujadhur 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 Stormy Front, Destination, Tickle My Cluster, New Recruit, Thunder Valley and Sun Blast prior to the race and from Bold Plum prior to and after the race.

<B>RACE 8 – THE WALLIS MC CLOUD PLATE</B>

At the start Got The Pace was slow out, losing about one length. Goldhawk jumped inwards. Approaching the 1300 metres Covert Power shifted in despite its jockey’s attempt to straighten it, resulting in Spirit being cramped for room over a short distance. Near the 400 metres, Covert Power was taken out of the heels of a fading Spirit in order to obtain a clear run. In the final straight, Judgement Day had a tendency to hang in very badly and was difficult to be properly assisted. The Club’s Veterinary Surgeon reported that Spirit was lame in the off fore leg. In view of this, trainer Ramapatee Gujadhur 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 Spirit, Music Master, Judgement Day, Surfing Award and Covert Power prior to the race and from Steal A Dance after the race.

<B>Stéphane de Chalain for Chairman of Racing Stewards</B>

<B>Alain Rousset victime du chik !</B>

Alain Rousset est souffrant. Il est une des victimes actuelles du virus chikungunya. Au repos complet, le Chief Stipe, déjà mal à l’aise samedi, n’a pu présider, hier, les enquêtes concernant le “running and riding” de Forest Flag et de Brooke’s Express.

Rye Joorawon “out” pour six semaines</B>