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ROSE BOWL (Hanumant Singh) was restless after being stalled. Trainer M.Narredu has been asked to give the gelding more gate practice before next accepting to race.

After being stalled, SAN RAFAEL (C.Rajendra) swayed its head to the right and the Jockey asked the Handler to correct it. As the Handler was trying to correct the horse’s head, the start was effected and the Handler was unable to remove the Blindfold in the first attempt. The Blindfold was removed on the second attempt, resulting in the horse losing about 4 lengths at the start.

Immediately after the race, Mr.Suresh G.Advani, part owner of SAN RAFAEL, gave a written complaint that the Blindfold on his horse was removed late as a result his horse had lost considerable ground at the start.

A Stewards Enquiry was held into the start of the race. After hearing the Stipendiary Stewards and the Starter and viewing the video replay of the start of the race and relying on their own observation, the Stewards held the view that SAN RAFAEL was denied a fair start in this race and therefore, decided to declare SAN RAFAEL a Non Starter and as per the relevant Rules, all bets on this horse were ordered to be refunded.

The Stewards after the last race, further interviewed the Starter, the Handler who was deputed to hold the horse, SAN RAFAEL, as well as Jockey C.Rajendra and having heard them and having viewed the video recording of the start of the race, the explanation tendered by them was noted.

As a result of SAN RAFAEL, placed 4^th by the Judge after the running of the above race, being declared a non-Starter after a Stewards’ Enquiry, the Revised Order of placing is as under:

PRINCE OF TROY - First; GRANT PARK - Third;
OCEAN POWER - Second; EQUIANO - Fourth
After the race, SPRAUNCY was found to be sound.