ROYAL WESTERN INDIA TURF CLUB, LTD.

MUMBAI MEETING 2017/18, TWENTYEIGHT DAY, THURSDAY, 15th MARCH, 2018.

(PENETROMETER: 3.7; GOING: GOOD)

(EVENING RACING)

 RACE DAY REPORTS

RAILS WERE PLACED 2 METRES AWAY FROM ITS ORIGINAL POINT FROM 1400 METRES (MILE CHUTE) TO 1200 METRES, 4 METRES AWAY AT 1000 METRES, 5 METRES AWAY AT 800 METRES AND THEREAFTER 6 METRES AWAY UP TO THE WINNING POST. FOR THE RACES STARTING FROM THE BACK STRETCH, RAILS WERE PLACED AT ITS ORIGINAL POINT FROM 1400 METRES LEADING TO 4 METRES AWAY AT 1000 METRES.

 

On a request from Trainer H. J. Antia, permission was granted to Trainer Amjad Khan to saddle his charges DECCAN KING & DIWALI LIGHTS (2nd race) and BAY OF LOVE (3rd race), at his (Trainer H. J. Antia’s) risk and responsibility.

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CHANGE OF JOCKEYS:

RACE

HORSE

JOCKEY

REPLACED BY

REASON

4(227)

CEZANNE

S. JAYKUMAR

KISHORE KADAM

Demise in the family

 

RACE NO.1(224) –THE RADHA SIGTIA TROPHY: (About) 2400 Metres – Runners - 4 

 

After the race, DROGO was trotted and found to be sound.

 

RACE NO.2(225) – THE OSMAN CHOTANI PLATE (DIV.II): (About) 1600 Metres – Runners - 12

 

SHIVALIK SKIES (Amyn Merchant) jumped out slow losing about 4 lengths at the start. Trainer Vijay Kasbekar has been asked to give the mare more gate practice and show her to the satisfaction of the Starter at morning starting trials, before next accepting to race.

 

CUPIDO (App. G. Amit) jumped out throwing its head.

 

At the start, DIVINE SPARK (J. Chinoy, dr. 2) jumped inwards and went across CUPIDO (App. G. Amit, dr. 1) who was marginally slow to begin.

 

At the start, DECCAN KING (Hanumant Singh, dr. 8) jumped outwards on to SHEVCHENKO (Neeraj Rawal, dr. 9) who in turn shifted out on to COMMANDPERFORMANCE (App. S. J. Sunil, dr. 10).

 

Passing the 800 metres, CUPIDO (App. G. Amit) shifted out and at the same time LOVELY FAIRY (V. R. Jagadeesh) shifted in, thereby tightening ALOHA (C. S. Jodha) racing between them.

 

Passing the 600 metres, SWEEPING MOVE (Bhawani Singh) was observed to have clipped the front runner and lost its footing.

 

Jockey Dashrath Singh (SIR SONG) was observed to have used the whip in excess of the prescribed limit on his mount. This being his first offence, he has been fined Rs.3,000/-.

 

App. G. Amit (CUPIDO) was observed to have used the whip in excess of the prescribed limit on his mount. This being his first offence, he has been fined Rs.3,000/-.

 

RACE NO.3(226) –THE OSMAN CHOTANI PLATE (DIV.I): (About) 1600 Metres – Runners - 12 

 

At the request of Jockey R. Ajinkya (BAY OF LOVE) the reins on his mount were adjusted on arrival at the start.

 

After being stalled, RICARDUS (C. S. Jodha) reared up. The gelding was taken out and examined by the Club’s Sr. V.O. who certified him fit to race.

 

In the final stages of the race, App. H. Zeeshan (ANGELS HARMONY) was observed to have momentarily lost his balance.

 

Jockey Dashrath Singh (HUZZAH’S GRACE) was observed to have used the whip in excess of the prescribed limit on his mount. This being his second offence, he has been fined Rs.5,000/-.

 

Jockey S. Sunil (SOLO MISSION) was observed to have used the whip in excess of the prescribed limit on his mount.  Since the same was used as a corrective measure, no action has been initiated against the Jockey. However, Trainer Karthik Ganapathy has been asked to take remedial measures before next accepting to race the gelding.

 

After the race, Jockey Kiran Naidu (FOREVER FREE) reported that his mount hung out in the straight. As such, Trainer Arif Patel has been asked to take remedial measures before next accepting to race the mare.

 

After the race, KOTOR was trotted and found to be sound.

 

RACE NO.4(227) –THE  IBRAHIM A.RAHIMTOOLA TROPHY: (About) 1400 Metres–Runners - 5

 

After being stalled, GLYNDEBOURNE (A. Sandesh) played up and hit her head on the front gate. The filly was taken out and examined by the Club’s Sr. V.O. and found to be bleeding from the left nostril. As such, GLYNDEBOURNE was certified unfit to race and was withdrawn before coming under the Starter’s order.  The Trainer is required to obtain a fitness certificate for the filly from the Club’s V.O. before next accepting with her to race.

 

RACE NO.5(228) –THE JIMMY BHARUCHA CUP: (About) 1000 Metres –Runners - 9 

 

At the start, MAKINO (D. S. Daman, dr. 5) jumped inwards on to ADELINE (P. Trevor, dr. 4) who in turn shifted in on to ANGEL GIRL (S. K. Jadhav, dr. 3).

 

Passing the 200 metres, ADELINE (P. Trevor) was held up for room and had to be steadied.

 

After the race, JIMBO and FRINGE BENEFIT were trotted and found to be sound.

 

RACE NO.6(229) – THE STARRY EYES PLATE: (About) 1400 Metres – Runners – 13

 

ANDALUCIA (S. Zervan) was reluctant to be stalled and ANGELS TOUCH (Bhawani Singh) reared up as the start was effected thus losing about 5 lengths at the start. Trainers Zadmal Singh and Karthik Ganapathy have been asked to give their respective charge more gate practice and show them to the satisfaction of the Starter at morning starting trials, before next accepting to race.

 

At the start, HELLS BELLS (Neeraj Rawal, dr. 2), HARRIER (A. Sandesh, dr. 3), ALSACE (App. H. Zeeshan, dr. 4) and COLLEGIUM (App. R. Ajinkya, dr. 5) were observed to have jostled.

 

At the start, SYLVESTER (App. S. A. Amit, dr. 6) jumped inwards and made contact with COLLEGIUM (App. R. Ajinkya, dr. 5).

 

Approaching the 300 metres, ALSACE (App. H. Zeeshan) shifted in and went across SYLVESTER (S. A. Amit) who had to be steadied. App. H. Zeeshan has been cautioned.

 

Jockey Amyn Merchant (ARC SHINE) was observed to have used the whip in excess of the permissible limit on his mount. On questioning, Jockey Amyn Merchant stated that the filly hung-in in the final furlong and the same was used as corrective measure. As such no action has been initiated against Jockey Amyn Merchant. However, Trainer Sangramsinh N. Joshi has been asked to take remedial measures before next accepting to race the filly.

 

After the race, Jockey Neeraj Rawal (HELLS BELLS) reported that his mount hung in under pressure.

 

After the race, Jockey S. Zervan (ANDALUCIA) reported that his mount hung out in the straight. Trainer Zadmal Singh has been asked to take remedial measures before next accepting to race the filly.

 

After the race, App. G. Amit (JACKPOT) reported that his mount hung-in throughout the race. Trainer Vinesh has been asked to take remedial measures before next accepting to race the gelding.

 

After the race, HELLS BELLS and ALSACE were trotted and found to be sound.

 

RACE NO.7(230) –THE  QUEST FOR CASH PLATE: (About) 1000 Metres–Runners- 14

 

RASHT (Kishore Kadam) was restless in the stall and not allowing the rider to settle. Trainer Sanjay Kolse has been asked to give the gelding more gate practice and show him to the satisfaction of the Starter at morning starting trials, before next accepting to race.

 

At the start, ART DECO (Sandeep Jadhav, dr. 3) jumped inwards and made contact with LORD COMMANDER (P. S. Chouhan, dr. 2) thereafter shifted out on to CICELIA (S. Zervan, dr. 4) who was inconvenienced. Jockey Sandeep Jadhav has been cautioned.

 

Passing 400 metres, Jockey T. S. Jodha (BEWITCHED) shifted out on to ZION who had to be checked. After questioning, Jockey T. S. Jodha has been fined Rs.3,000/-.

 

After the race, Jockey Amyn Merchant (EL TYCOON) reported that his mount hung out in the straight. Trainer Vijay Kasbekar has been asked to take remedial measures before next accepting to race the horse.

 

After the race, Jockey S. G. Prasad (SMART CHOICE) reported that his mount hung out in the straight. Trainer Vijay Kasbekar has been asked to take remedial measures before next accepting to race the mare.

 

An enquiry has been initiated into the running and riding of LORD COMMANDER (P. S. Chouhan) and a report will be submitted shortly.

 

After the race, LORD COMMANDER was trotted and found to be sound.

 

The urine samples of the winner of the 3rd, 5th and 7th race, viz. HUZZAH’S GRACE, PRICELESS GIRL and FINE TUNE, and the special sample of FRINGE BENEFIT (5th race) and LORD COMMANDER (7th race), were collected for detection of prohibited substance.

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TOTAL NUMBER OF RACES      -                                 7       TOTAL NUMBER OF RUNNERS                        -        69

TOTAL STAKES                            -        Rs.20,05,500/-       AVE. NUMBER OF RUNNERS PER RACE        -     9.85                  -------------------------------------

SUMMARY:

SUSPENSION/ FINE (S)

R.2(225)

Joc. Dashrath Singh – fined Rs. 3,000/- (whip offence);

App. G. Amit – fined Rs. 3,000/- (whip offence)

R.3(226)

Joc. Dashrath Singh – fined Rs. 5,000/- (whip offence);

R.7(230)

Joc. T. S. Jodha – fined Rs. 3,000/-

ACTION ON HORSE/S

R.2(225)

SHIVALIK SKIES – to be shown to the satisfaction of the Starter at morning starting trials

R.3(226)

FOREVER FREE (Hung out) – remedial measures;

SOLO MISSION (Hung in) – remedial measures

R.4(227)

GLYNDEBOURNE – (Injury on nostril) Fitness certificate from the Club’s V.O. required

R.6(229)

ANDALUCIA and ANGELS TOUCH – to be shown to the satisfaction of the Starter at morning starting trials

ARC SHINE (Hung in) – remedial measures; ANDALUCIA (Hung out) – remedial measures; JACKPOT (Hung in) – remedial measures

R.7(230)

RASHT – to be shown to the satisfaction of the Starter at morning starting trials

EL TYCOON & SMART CHOICE (Hung out) – remedial measures

 

ADDITIONAL REPORTS :

 

RE : ENQUIRY INTO THE RUNNING AND RIDING OF “TEMERITY” (NEERAJ RAWAL, DR.2) IN RACE NO.165 – THE DELTIN CASINOS ECLIPSE STAKES OF INDIA (GR.2) (2000 METRES) - RUN ON 10th FEBRUARY, 2018:

The Stipendiary Stewards reported that they had questioned Trainer P. Shroff and Jockey Neeraj Rawal in the above connection. Trainer P. Shroff said that he did not give any specific instructions to Jockey Neeraj Rawal but gave him all the options and in fact even told him that if he wished to sit along side B FIFTY TWO, he may do so as this filly is fine to which the Jockey had responded saying “no problem”. Trainer P. Shroff expressed his dissatisfaction with the manner in which Jockey Neeraj Rawal rode TEMERITY in this race. He said that he had watched Jockey Neeraj Rawal’s previous rides on this filly as well as some other horses to ascertain a pattern and he felt that Jockey Neeraj Rawal’s ride on TEMERITY in this race was completely not in character with his earlier rides where he has come out and won close races. Trainer P. Shroff said that he understood that the pace was slow and there was a run in the last two furlongs, however, TEMERITY is not a staying horse in the sense that she is not a plodder by any stretch of imagination, she has won races as a 2/3-year-old and she has enough turn of foot specially over a 2000 metres race to beat a horse like B FIFTY TWO. Therefore, he was not convinced with Jockey Neeraj Rawal’s bonafides as far as this race was concerned. To a question, Trainer P. Shroff said that after the race Jockey Neeraj Rawal informed him that the pace was slow. He said that it was not a happy situation to doubt his main rider and one can understand that things went wrong but there were only two runners. Trainer P. Shroff was informed that immediately after the race when questioned, Jockey Neeraj Rawal to a specific question had said that he was not over confident at that stage (2 furlongs from home) but he had no horse under him (“struggling”) and when questioned about his riding effort, Jockey Neeraj Rawal had nothing to say. Trainer P. Shroff said that the statement of Jockey Neeraj Rawal that the filly was struggling in the race was exactly the opposite of what he told the owner in private i.e. “he had a monster under him” (later clarified that he had used the word “engine”) which had disturbed the owner. Trainer P. Shroff reiterated that he doubted the bonafides of the Jockey. He said that if he had any further information on this, either way, he would come back and inform the Stipes.

Jockey Neeraj Rawal said that he was not given any specific instructions but he was told that if found himself in the front, no problem. He said that last time out he went to the front as he was specifically instructed to do so. When asked as to why he did not consider taking over the running in the race in question since the pace was slow, Jockey Neeraj Rawal said that from the 4 furlongs Jockey P. Trevor (B FIFTY TWO) picked up the pace and he felt that there was no point to chase and take over the running as he was confident that any time he pulled his filly out, she will go past him. Jockey Neeraj Rawal was reminded that immediately after the race when he was asked whether he had ridden an over confident race coming into the straight and two furlongs from home, he had replied in the negative and explained that coming into the straight he had a great horse under him but when he asked for an effort, his filly was struggling. Jockey Neeraj Rawal was informed that Trainer P. Shroff had expressed his dissatisfaction with the riding. When again asked to explain his riding in the straight, Jockey Neeraj Rawal said that coming into the straight, he was on the heels of B FIFTY TWO and when Jockey P. Trevor picked up the pace, the gap between them was one length and he was confident that his filly was too good and would easily pass him but when he asked for an effort his filly was struggling whereas B FIFTY TWO kept lengthening his stride. To a specific question, Jockey Neeraj Rawal said that he had picked up the stick but instead of bashing the filly he felt that he should ride her out so as to help the filly put her head in front. He said that last time when he beat B FIFTY TWO, his filly was struggling to pass so he had put his stick down and ridden out hands and heels and managed to win by a nose and he did the same thing this time. To another query, Jockey Neeraj Rawal admitted that it was a slow run race and he could have picked up the filly and gone, however, he was confident that he will easily pass B FIFTY TWO, however, the turn of foot that horse produced took him by surprise. To another question, Jockey Neeraj Rawal said that Jockey Malcolm Kharadi had galloped the filly two days before the race and thereafter discussed with the Trainer and they both felt that the filly was a bit heavy and underdone and Jockey Malcolm Kharadi informed this to him when he cantered the filly one day before the race.

Jockey Neeraj Rawal was informed that the Trainer as well as the part-owner had expressed their dissatisfaction with the riding and the Stipendiary Stewards were also not satisfied with his riding on TEMERITY and went through his phone for any leads and he was asked to submit his itemized call details for the month of February, 2018

 

Further, Jockey Malcolm Kharadi who was in Kolkotta, was contacted over the phone on 24th February, 2018 to confirm the statement of Jockey Neeraj Rawal. On being asked, Jockey Malcolm Kharadi stated that TEMERITY was always worked by Jockey Neeraj Rawal except on her final spurt before the race when he was asked to spurt the filly since Jockey Neeraj Rawal was unavailable. He said that having spurted the filly, he had informed the Trainer that in his opinion the filly had bit of a blow to which the Trainer enquired from him as to who was working the filly on regular basis and he had informed the Trainer that it was Jockey Neeraj Rawal after which the Trainer decided to canter the filly again and she was cantered by Jockey Neeraj Rawal the day before the race. To a specific query, Jockey Malcolm Kharadi said that whilst the filly did have bit of a blow, she was not gross and added that the filly had been going regular 10 furlong canters.

 

The Stipendiary Stewards informed that Jockey Neeraj Rawal has been forthcoming in the enquiry and has submitted his call details for the relevant period and on going through it, prima-facie, there is no questionable information in the same.

 

The matter was reported to the Stewards for such action as they deem fit.

 

The Stewards of the Club at their meeting held on 8th March, 2018 interviewed Trainer P. Shroff and Jockey Neeraj Rawal who was accompanied by his Spokesman, Mr. Altamaash Ahmed, as also Trainer P. Shroff and Mr. Berjis M. Desai, part-owner of the horse and having viewed the video recording of the race in question as also the filly’s two previous runs during the current Mumbai Meeting 2017/18 i.e. Race Nos.32 and 82, the Stewards were not satisfied with the explanation tendered by Jockey Neeraj Rawal and held him guilty of unsatisfactory riding on his mount TEMERITY in Race No.165. The Stewards held the view that his riding on TEMERITY in this race was contrary to his known riding capabilities as compared to his riding efforts on the same filly in the previous two races. In that, he waited too long to make his move thereby placing his mount at complete disadvantage and also his riding efforts and the use of whip was not similar to his ride in Race No.32. Further, Jockey Neeraj Rawal himself admitted that it was an error of judgement on his part. The Stewards noted that there was a drift in the odds of the filly and the other horse was backed down and Trainer and the part-owner had expressed their serious dissatisfaction with the riding.

 

Therefore, taking an over-all view, the Stewards of the Club decided to suspend Jockey Neeraj Rawal’s  license for 10 Race Days w.e.f.  30th March, 2018 to 29th April, 2018 (both days inclusive) for unsatisfactory riding on his mount TEMERITY in Race No.165 (permitted to ride work/mock race).

 

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SAMPLES - RESULTS:

 

The urine sample of the following horses has been reported NEGATIVE for the presence of Anabolic Steroids and Sex Hormones:

 

19/02/2018           -               ASTRAL FORCE, BOLD MARCH, EDEN ROCK, ONE EYED PRINCESS, ANTARTICA,

                                                POLYNEICES, TOBASCO, ST. ANDREWS, MAN OF WORD, SAFDAR, ROYAL BLOOD

                                                GOLD BOND, DHISHOOM, IRON AGE, PIONEER, ARROWFIELD, CARNIVAL,

                                                ORION’S BELT, UNDISPUTED.

 

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Mumbai: 17th March, 2018