Race 9: NEXT FAIRVIEW RACEMEETING FRIDAY 25 AUGUST MR 78 HANDICAP (Open)

THE STARTER REPORTED:

a)	DELICASEA (K Minnie) was nervous in the stalls.
b)	ANGEL DEB'S (C Habib) threw its head down as the start was effected and fly-jumped leaving the stalls, losing one length.
c)	QUEEN'S WOOD (J Jacobs) jumped slow, losing one length.
d)	COOL WINTER (R Fourie) fly-jumped leaving the stalls and thereafter was slow into stride.
e)	VICTORY OF DUBAI (Y Ramzan) was slow into stride.

THE STIPENDIARY STEWARDS REPORTED: 

a)	At the 300m BETHEL (M van Rensburg) was brushed by NARCOS (D Schwarz), which shifted out slightly. 	POMODORO MAGIC (M Mjoka), which had commenced to improve on the outside of BETHEL (M van 	Rensburg), was tightened for galloping room and was switched outwards to obtain relief. Consequently, 		WAR LAUNCH (L Mxothwa), which was positioned on the outside of POMODORO MAGIC (M Mjoka), was 	severely tightened, had to steady and was unbalanced when in restricted galloping room on the inside of 	QUEEN'S WOOD (J Jacobs), which shifted in slightly when it received some pressure from GIACOMO 	PUCCINI (M Yeni), which rolled in slightly. During this incident POMODORO MAGIC (M Mjoka), WAR 	LAUNCH (L Mxothwa) and QUEEN'S WOOD (J Jacobs) bumped on a number of occasions and were 	unbalanced. The Stewards, after carefully assessing this incident from various angles, were of the opinion 	that no individual Rider could be held accountable for this incident, determined that it was a racing incident 	and took no further action.
b)	Jockeys S Khathi and S Naidoo, the riders of PARIS RIX and FIRST ORIGIN respectively, reported that these geldings did not stride out freely in running. The Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine.
c)	In view of the performance of VEGAS GOLD (C Zackey), which tired quickly from the 200m and was not persevered with in the latter stages, the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine this gelding.
d)	Jockey L Mxothwa was charged with a contravention of Rule 55.4 in that he failed to weigh out at the carded weight on WAR LAUNCH. Jockey L Mxothwa signed an admission of guilt and was fined R2000.00. In determining penalty, the Stewards considered Jockey L Mxothwa's recent record regarding contraventions of this rule.
e)	GREAT MELODY, the winner, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis. Trainer GD Smith was 	advised. (LM)

JOCKEY AND/OR EQUIPMENT CHANGES:

a)	L Mxothwa (WAR LAUNCH) rode +1kg (57.8kgs)
b)	GIACOMO PUCCINI raced without blinkers (declared 07h17 on 20230818)

RACE CARD CHANGES / OTHER 

a)	Nil

THE VETERINARY SURGEON REPORTED:

a)	PARIS RIX - examined post-race.  Nothing obvious detected
b)	VEGAS GOLD - examined post-race. Nothing obvious detected
c)	FIRST ORIGIN - examined post-race. Nothing obvious detected
d)	ANGEL DEB'S - coughing
e)	VICTORY OF DUBAI - coughing

THERE WERE NO SCRATCHINGS