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At the start, VIVA LA DIVA (S.P.Ranjane) was inconvenienced for room as OCEAN EMPEROR (B.Prakash) shifted in. Jockey B.Prakash has been asked to be more careful.

Approaching 800 metres, OCEAN EMPEROR (B.Prakash) was tightened and dropped back as SCINTILLO (S.Sunil) shifted in, due to which AL HUZZAH (Nirmal Jodha) received interference. Jockey S.Sunil has been cautioned.

After the race, CROWNED PRINCESS, VIVA LA DIVA and AL HUZZAH were found to be sound.

Trainer H.J.Antia and Jockey S.P.Ranjane were questioned regarding the running and riding of VIVA LA DIVA. Trainer Antia said that he had instructed the Jockey to hit the front and if some other horse hits the front, not to fight for the lead but sit well up and to do his best. Jockey S.P.Ranjane confirmed the instructions. The video recording of the race was viewed and it was pointed out to Jockey S.P.Ranjane that the horse was slightly inconvenienced on jump out and he had to steady his mount but thereafter he had made no effort to improve his position and sit well up as instructed. Further, on entering the straight twice he had the opportunity to take an opening but he made no attempt to take the gap and instead went behind horses thereby denying his horse a clear run and took the horse out when the race was nearly over. Further, he had not used the whip even once and he was feeble in his riding efforts. Trainer Antia said that he had not told the Jockey not to use the whip. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the Jockey’s riding. Not being satisfied with the explanation tendered by Jockey S.P.Ranjane, he was reported to the Stewards for not allowing his mount VIVA LA DIVA to run on its merits in the above race.

The Stewards after the last race interviewed Trainer H.J.Antia and Jockey S.P.Ranjane in the above connection. Having heard the submissions made by Trainer H.J.Antia and Jockey S.P.Ranjane and having viewed the video recording of the race, the Stewards were not satisfied with the explanation tendered by Jockey S.P.Ranjane and held him guilty of not permitting his mount VIVA LA DIVA to run on its merits. However, before taking a decision in the matter, the Stewards wished to give Jockey S.P.Ranjane one more opportunity to defend himself and hence adjourned the hearing to Thursday, 22^nd December, 2011. The Stipendiary Stewards were directed to issue a letter to Jockey S.P.Ranjane to show cause in writing as to why necessary/appropriate action should not be taken against him by the Stewards of the Club in connection with the captioned matter and also to appear before the Stewards of the Club after the last race on Thursday, 22^nd December, 2011