BAUDIN (K. Louca) jumped away awkwardly.

When questioned regarding the performance of TALANTO, P. Gatt advised that his mount never felt comfortable in running and did not really improve when he commenced to niggle the gelding inside the 800 metres. Thereafter P. Gatt felt that TALANTO had struggled under pressure.

Subsequent to the race a Veterinary inspection of TALANTO revealed the gelding to be lame in the off fore leg, and exhibited signs of knee soreness on flexion.

Subsequent to the race a Veterinary inspection of BAUDIN revealed the gelding to be lame in both fore limbs.

A routine swab sample was taken from OUTSIDE THE SQUARE, winner of the race.

STITCH IN TIME (T. Creek) was slow to jump.

Approaching the winning post AUTUMN BELLE (W. Kerford) shifted out abruptly.

Subsequent to the race a Veterinary inspection of MIGHTY RAJA failed to reveal any visible abnormalities.

A routine swab sample was taken from AUTUMN BELLE, winner of the race.

LACELINE (NZ) (C. Lindop) jumped away awkwardly.

VENGADAME (W. Kerford) was slow to jump, and shortly afterwards was inconvenienced as a result of MISS VODKA (T. Creek) shifting out.

LACELINE (NZ) (C. Lindop) raced greenly in the middle stages of the race and while being steadied off the heels of CARNDONAGH (D. O’Heare), approaching the 500 metres, commenced to lay out.

LACELINE (NZ) (C. Lindop) hung out making the turn into the entrance of the straight.

Subsequent to the race a Veterinary inspection of LACELINE (NZ) failed to reveal any visible abnormalities.

Mr. P. Preusker, Trainer of LACELINE (NZ), was advised that should the filly perform in a similar manner in future, action may be taken against it.

A routine swab sample was taken from THANKS A BUNDLE, winner of the race.

Damien Holland was notified as the rider of ROMANOUS JEWEL.

Ms. Y. Forrest, Trainer of ROMANOUS JEWEL, was fined $50 for not declaring a rider by the required time.

In the vicinity of the 200 metres RUBITON ROAD (T. Creek) was held up briefly before obtaining a run inside STAR GAMES (P. Gatt), which had commenced to weaken.

Subsequent to the race a Veterinary inspection of JUGGLED failed to reveal any visible abnormalities.

ROMANOUS JEWEL suffered a bi-lateral bleeding attack subsequent to the race. Ms. Y. Forrest, Trainer of ROMANOUS JEWEL, was advised the horse was now banned from racing for a period of three months in accordance with AR53A.

A routine swab sample was taken from RED ASTAIRE, winner of the race.

MOTTO’S BELLE was withdrawn by Stewards at 2.23 p.m., acting on Veterinary advice that the mare was lame in the near hind foot.

The start of this race was delayed owing to OZFLICKS (J. Bowditch) proving difficult to load.

Mr. D. Jolly, Trainer of OZFLICKS, was advised that a repetition of the mare’s behaviour may lead to action being taken against it.

After being loaded BLINI (T. Creek) became restless and was momentarily cast in the barriers.

BLINI subsequently underwent a Veterinary examination and was ruled fit to start.

Near the 1100 metres BENYANG (H. McKechnie) became unbalanced when tightened while racing inside BLINI (T. Creek), which had been taken in and inconvenienced by OZFLICKS (J. Bowditch), as a result of that mare being tightened by SQUIRTLE (C. Lever), which shifted in.

C. Lever was advised of his obligations when shifting ground.

Near the 300 metres C. Lever, rider of SQUIRTLE, dropped his whip. C. Lever was reprimanded and advised that similar carelessness in future would lead to a penalty being imposed.

Subsequent to the race a Veterinary inspection of BLINI revealed the mare to be slightly lame in the near fore leg.

A routine swab sample was taken from LADY VICKI, winner of the race.

J. O’Connor was notified as the rider of COUNTBACK.

Mr. D. O’Sullivan, Trainer of COUNTBACK, was fined $50 for failing to notify a rider by the required time.

At the entrance to the straight RALLY (J. Bowditch) was held up for a short distance.

Approaching the 200 metres MORE ACTION (S. Cahill) shifted in and took the running of SPICE DOLL (C. Lindop), which became reluctant, was hampered and lost its position.

S. Cahill was found guilty of a charge of Careless Riding under AR 137(a) and suspended for a period to commence at midnight on 26^th December and to expire at midnight on Saturday 29^th December 2001. A period of one Metropolitan Meeting.

Subsequent to the race a Veterinary examination of FURNISH revealed the gelding to be lame in the off hind stifle.

KEYMARK suffered an injury to its off fore heel during the race.

A routine swab sample was taken from KEN CHEVAL, winner of the race.

CZARINA, which had been extremely restless in the float en route to the racecourse, was examined on arrival on course and ruled fit to race.

T. Creek, rider of FIBBA (NZ), reported from inside the 500 metres the gelding held its position under pressure, however, it was only when he was able to obtain more galloping room in the vicinity of the 100 metres that his mount had responded to his riding.

AFTER BEUNE suffered a laceration to its off hind fetlock during the race.

A routine swab sample was taken from ASTROLANTE, winner of the race.

Subsequent to this event D. O’Heare was examined by the Club’s Surgeon and ruled unfit to ride.

RACE 8 : WALLIS THEATRES HANDICAP

W. Kerford replaced D. O’Heare as the rider of VOODOO SUNSET.

GUN SHOT was withdrawn by Stewards at 11.26 a.m., acting on a confirmed telephone advice from Mr. G. Kennewell, the gelding’s Trainer, that it was sore in the off fore leg.

HENRYSEE’S GOLD (H. McKechnie) was slow to jump.

Near the 200 metres BUTKUS (J. Maund) shifted in and hampered DAMON (M. Hoppo), which was taken in and brushed SKIING (P. Gatt).

Subsequent to the race a Veterinary inspection of SCENIC GARDEN failed to reveal any visible abnormalities.

Subsequent to the race a Veterinary inspection of JIMMY’S EDGE revealed the gelding to be lame in the off fore leg. Mr. J. D. Smith, Trainer of JIMMY’S EDGE, was advised that a Veterinary Certificate of Fitness to Race would be required for the gelding before accepting for a future event.

A routine swab sample was taken from EUBECHA, winner of the race.

GENERAL:

The Racecourse Detective, Mr. R. Lean, conducted random breath samples of eighteen Jockeys during the afternoon. All samples returned a zero reading.

TCO² TESTING:

Blood samples were taken from the following horses for the purpose of TCO² testing:

JUGGLED, ANNIHILATION, STYLISH RESPONSE (NZ), STAR GAMES, MORE ACTION, ROMILADA, FURNISH (NZ), RECKABAR, WYNDAM SPECIAL (NZ), SEDONIC, KEN CHEVAL, MARRON CHEVAL, FIBBA (NZ), AFTER BEUNE, COMFORTS & DARK BANNER.

The Stewards Room