RACING240 CLASSIFIED STAKES (For All Horses)

THE STARTER REPORTED: a) PRINCESS OF BAYEUX (R Fourie) was subject to a late veterinary examination at the start and passed fit to race. b) SLAINTE MHATH (X Ndlovu) was stubborn loading and thereafter nervous in the stalls. c) GLOBAL SPEAK (E Webber) was slow into stride. THE STIPENDIARY STEWARDS REPORTED: a) All horses selected for TCO2 were within the required levels, and no retests were recorded. (13h38) b) GLOBAL SPEAK (E Webber) over-raced in the early stages. c) At approximately the 400m, SLAINTE MHATH (X Ndlovu), which was carried out by GLOBAL SPEAK (E Webber), was steadied momentarily when awkwardly placed on the heels of PRINCESS OF BAYEUX (R Fourie). d) FLASH LIGHTNING (*B Soodoo) hung in in the concluding stages. e) Jockey R Fourie appeared before the Board and was afforded the opportunity to place on record any factors which may have accounted for the performance of PRINCESS OF BAYEUX. He explained to the Board that during the loading process, this filly, when fitted with the hood, had rushed the back gates and thereafter kicked the back gates, which led to her being subject to a late veterinary examination and cleared fit to race. He further added that shortly after the start, PRINCESS OF BAYEUX (R Fourie) and SLAINTE MHATH (X Ndlovu) came together and bumped on two occasions, which resulted in PRINCESS OF BAYEUX'S hindquarters being turned in. He added that this filly, in response, had commenced to over-race fiercely, which resulted in her racing in advance of the field before he was able to settle her and, on entering the straight, PRINCESS OF BAYEUX tired badly and made a severe abnormal respiratory noise. The Board noted Jockey R Fourie's explanation, and the Veterinary Surgeon was requested to examine PRINCESS OF BAYEUX. f) Jockey C Little (HENRY'S HEDGE) was charged with a contravention of Rule 66.4 in that he weighed back in, in excess of 1kg over the weight at which he was declared out. Jockey C Little signed an Admission of Guilt and was fined R1000. g) HENRY'S HEDGE, the winner, was selected for the taking of specimens for analysis. Trainer J P Nel advised (LM). JOCKEY CHANGES: a) SLAINTE MHATH was ridden by Jockey X Ndlovu (declared 19 December 2025 at 08H01). RACE CARD CHANGES / OTHER: a) HENRY'S HEDGE raced equipped with blinkers (declared 16 December 2025 at 08H51). b) LADY ZULTANITE raced equipped with cheek pieces (declared 17 December 2025 at 09H56). THE VETERINARY SURGEON REPORTED: a) PRINCESS OF BAYEUX choked up; mouth injury. b) LADY ZULTANITE abnormal respiratory noise. c) SLAINTE MHATH coughing post-race. THERE WERE NO SCRATCHINGS. DISQUALIFIED / DECLARED NON-RUNNER: None. Race 4 contd.