1

SERGEANT PEPPER (Anthony Crastus) hung inwards and ASLAN (C.S.Jodha) hung outwards in the straight thereby placing their Riders at a disadvantage. Trainer P.Shroff and Magansingh P.Jodha have been asked to take remedial measures before next accepting to race their respective charge. 

Trainer P.Shroff was questioned regarding the poor performance of SERGEANT PEPPER. The Instructions were to go to the front. The Trainer further stated that the only way that the horse could win was to go to the front. The Jockey stated that the outside horse SPIRIT OF MERCY was much faster than him after the jump and went to the front comfortably and since the pace set by him was good he did not feel the need to take over the running. he stated that if he would have had to take the lead at about 1200 metres and go to the front, he did not want to do that as it would be too late in the race after the jump to do so and the horse would have gone faster than he would have liked. The matter was reported to the Stewards.

The Stewards interviewed Trainer P Shroff and Jockey Anthony Crastus in the above connection and having heard them and having viewed the video recording of the race, were not satisfied with the explanation tendered by Jockey Anthony Crastus and held him guilty of not following the Trainer’s instructions.

 However, taking an overall view and giving some cognizance to the explanation given by Jockey Antony Crastus that  this was his normal style of riding, the Stewards took a lenient view in the matter and instead of suspending his Jockey’s license, they decided to only fine him a sum of Rs.25,000/- for riding an injudicious race whereby he did not follow the Trainer’s specific instructions.

Jockey Suraj Narredu (GLOWING STAR) has been fined Rs.1000/- for using his whip in an improper manner wherein he used the whip in fore hand position on the shoulder of his mount.

After the race, SERGEANT PEPPER, ASLAN and EL CLASICO were found to be sound.