WSB SpinaWina MR 98 DIVIDED HANDICAP (Open)

THE STARTER REPORTED: a) MHLABENI (D Ashby) and SLINGS AND ARROWS (JP van der Merwe) kicked the back gates in the starting stalls and thereafter were slow into stride. b) SAFE RETURN (S Khumalo) was slow into stride. THE STIPENDIARY STEWARDS REPORTED: a) Steady rain continued to fall between Races 2 and 3 and during the running of this race. b) Following the running of Race 2, an Executive of 4Racing approached the Stewards to request permission that the remainder of the race meeting be run on the polytrack surface as, in his opinion, the rain that had set in would prove to be an impediment to the conclusion of the race meeting if races were to continue on the turf surface. The Stewards, after carefully considering the amount of rain that had fallen prior to Race 3, the prevailing track conditions in Race 2 which showed soft areas in the middle of the track, in particular in the straight, and that a horse had slipped in the pull up area in Race 2, approved the request to move the remainder of the race meeting to the polytrack in the interests of the continuation of the race meeting. Trainers were afforded the opportunity to withdraw their runners by 13h00 on the grounds of the change of surface and amendments were made to the distances of Races 4 and 7. Race times were amended accordingly. c) PURE MAVERICK (M Yeni) and TEATRO (X Ndlovu), which were hanging inwards, shifted inwards independently between the 300m and the finish. d) Jockey D Ashby reported that MHLABENI gave ground to the field quickly from the 300m and he did not persevere with his riding from the 200m. The veterinary surgeon was requested to examine this gelding. e) Apprentice S Sisobo reported that FERRARI ICE choked up in running and did not respond to his urgings from the 200m. FERRARI ICE (*S Sisobo) was attended to on course by the veterinary surgeon. f) PURE MAVERICK, the winner, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis. Trainer K Mitchley was advised. (HK) JOCKEY AND/OR EQUIPMENT CHANGES: a) TARANTINO raced without cheek pieces and with blinkers (declared 08h49 on 20230512) RACE CARD CHANGES / OTHER a) Nil THE VETERINARY SURGEON REPORTED: a) MHLABENI - examined post-race. Nothing obvious detected b) FERRARI ICE - collapsed at the pull-up (deceased; suspected cardiac arrest) A specimen was taken for analysis. Trainer GD Smith was advised. (KD) c) TEATRO - cut into left hind THERE WERE NO SCRATCHINGS