■ <B>RACE 1 – THE MYSTIC SNOW CUP</B>

At the start Precision was slow out, losing about one length. Shortly after the start Sega was cramped for room, clipped the heels off Pigeon Post and stumbled badly. Near the 1250 metres Precision and Sega were cramped for room when Pigeon Post shifted in. Jockey Shea was shown the video of the incident, issued with a warning and told to exercise care when shifting ground. Shortly after, Fleeting Moment jumped the crossing and had to be checked off the heels of African Epoch, which had shifted in from Bite the Bullet and Sega, which was following, was badly inconvenienced over some distance. Jockeys Bekker and Rama were shown the video of this incident and told to exercise more care when shifting ground. National Lore raced wide on the first turn. Approaching the 300 metres Burn The Bridge bumped the running rail and shifted out and, at the same time Precision, which had a tendency to hang in, shifted in slightly despite jockey Boutanive’s attempt to straighten it. Bite the Bullet, which was racing in between them, was slightly cramped for room. Near the 75 metres Bite The Bullet was cramped for room when Patriarch shifted in and had to be checked. Pigeon Post raced wide throughout.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Patriarch and Precision prior to the race and from Link-up after the race.

■ <B>RACE 2 – THE MUN. OF PORT LOUIS 125TH ANN. CUP</B>

Sardonyx raced fiercely from the 1200 to the 700 metres, throwing its head up when being settled. Passing the 1200 metres and again near the 1100 metres Major League shifted in slightly, resulting in St. Nicholas, which was racing on its inside, being slightly inconvenienced and having to be steadied. At an inquiry into the incident, jockey Daby was issued with a warning and told to ensure that he is clear of horses before shifting ground. Sardonyx hung out under pressure in the final straight. Jockey Shea (Sardonyx) pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 158 (5) in that he, without good cause, did not ride his mount out to the finish. After considering that he would not have improved the placing of the horse, nonetheless he was expected to ride his mount out to the finish, he was fined Rs 20,000. Jockey Herholdt (New Recruit) reported that his mount raced fiercely from the 800 metres and, from the 400 metres, was taken out for a run and made into the turn into the final straight very wide.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Aeronaut and St. Nicholas prior to the race and from Royal Dome after the race.

■ <B>RACE 3 – THE MUN. OF PORT LOUIS CENTENARY CUP</B>

From the 400 metres Playing Possum had a tendency to hang out under pressure and made the turn into the final straight wide. When questioned about the poor performance of Rue Royale, jockey Whitmore stated that from the start his horse was travelling nicely on the fence and that from the 400 metres, when asked for an effort, the latter

failed to quicken. Trainer S. Henry added that he expected a better run from Rue Royale and the latter coughed after the race. A subsequent veterinary examination of the horse revealed that it bled. In view of this report and, acting under Rule 166 (2) (c), trainer S. Henry was advised that Rue Royale has been suspended for one month and will need a veterinary clearance before being allowed to race again.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Playing Possum, Don’s Fire and Regal Rusty prior to the race and from Game Lodge after the race.

■ <B>RACE 4 – THE MANOJ D. PAPER PROCESSING CHAL. CUP</B>

At the start Arabian Scent slipped, One For The Road half reared and President Bill stood flat-footed, all being slow out and losing about one length.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Arabian Scent prior to the race and from One For The Road after the race.

■ <B>RACE 5 – LE POINT OFFICE STATIONERY COLONEL DRAPER CUP</B>

The start was delayed when Flavius reared and sat backwards in its stall. It was removed from the stall, examined and passed fit to race by the Club’s Veterinary Surgeon. In view of this, trainer S. Henry was advised that this horse will need to pass a barrier trial to the satisfaction of the Stewards before being allowed to race again. At the start Joshua Tree was slow out, losing about one length. Flavius hung out from the 300 metres and Germany On hung out in the final straight. Shortly after entering the final straight, Cherry Bite was slightly inconvenienced when forcing its way into a small gap between Germany On and Flavius. At an inquiry into a report from the veterinary surgeon Alexander Espitalier-Noël, trainer S. Henry was strongly advised to refrain from making any reproach in an aggressive manner to any MTC veterinary surgeon in the exercise of his duty.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Cherry Bite prior to the race and from Joshua Tree after the race.

■ <B>RACE 6 – LA COUPE DU BI-CENTENAIRE</B>

At the start War Games, Road Rover and Mr Magoo were slow out, all losing about one length. On jumping Ten Hundred stumbled. From the 900 metres Orace Barfoot started racing fiercely, was taken out off the heels of War Games and allowed to go closer to the lead. At an inquiry into an incident, jockey Herholdt (War Games) pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 161 (c) in that passing the 1100 metres, he carelessly allowed his mount to shift in, resulting in Innkeeper on his inside having to be checked and Mr Magoo and Orace Barfoot, which were following, having to be checked and taken out. Jockey Herholdt was fined Rs 20,000. From the 900 metres when the pace slowed, Kings Arms and Road Rover started racing fiercely. Innkeeper raced wide on the final turn. From the 400 metres War Games failed to quicken when asked for an effort and was not persevered with in the final straight. A subsequent veterinary examination of this horse revealed that it pulled up distressed and was found to be suffering from a heat stroke. In view of this, trainer B. Gujadhur was told that this horse will need a veterinary clearance before being allowed to race again. Over the concluding stages Kings Arms had to be eased off the heels of Remote Horizon. The Club’s Veterinary Surgeon reported that Remote Horizon bled. In view of this report and, acting under Rule 166 (2) (c), trainer J. Espitalier-Noël was advised that Remote Horizon has been suspended for one month and will need a veterinary clearance before being allowed to race again.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Ten Hundred and Road Rover prior to the race and from Remote Horizon prior to and after the race.

■ <B>RACE 7 – THE RAMNARAIN RAJCOOMAR GUJADHUR CUP</B>

At the start Mythical Man was slow out and jumped outwards onto Gandolf. Star Of Houston jumped outwards, brushing Simply Green, and Wolfe Tone jumped inwards onto Credit Line, resulting in the latter being taken in. Simply Green which was following was cramped for room and had to be eased. At an inquiry into an incident, jockey Bekker (Wolfe Tone) 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 Spinning Honor, on its inside, having to be checked. He was fined Rs 10,000. Jockey Neisius reported that Star Of Houston had its tongue over the bit, raced fiercely and hung in badly during the race. From the 300 metres Star of Houston shifted in badly despite jockey Neisius’s attempt to straighten it, resulting in Credit Line being cramped for room and brushing the running rail. Gandolf and Foxies Chord raced wide throughout.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Spinning Honor prior to the race and from Wolfe Tone after the race.

■ <B>RACE 8 – THE SPECIAL IDOL PLATE </B>

The Club’s Veterinary Surgeon reported that Championchallange was lame and was unfit to race. Consequently, the horse was withdrawn at 8 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 S. Henry was advised that Championchallange will need a veterinary certificate of soundness before being allowed to race again. Jockey Boutanive, who was indisposed, was replaced on Rambo Fire by jockey S. Mahadia. Permission was granted to trainer V. Allet to remove the pacifiers from Sir Winston. At the start Spirit reared and jumped outwards, losing many lengths and Desert Prince was slow out, losing about one length. At an inquiry into the riding of Tickle My Cluster, Jockey Shea pleaded guilty to a charge under Rule 161 (f) in that he without good cause failed to ride his mount with his usual vigour in the final straight. He was fined Rs 20,000.

Routine urine specimens were taken for analysis from Tickle My Cluster and Rambo Fire prior to the race and from Harbour Bridge after the race.

<B>Alain ROUSSET</B> Chairman of Racing Stewards</I>