Le jockey sud-africain François Herholdt a été trouvé coupable de n’avoir pas piloté le cheval Key Of Gold à la satisfaction des commissaires dans la 5e course de la 4e journée. Il a écopé d’une suspension de deux journées et d’une amende de Rs 30 000.

La performance du jockey François Herholdt sur Key Of Gold a été passée à la loupe par les commissaires ce matin, mardi 19 avril. Ce cheval, qui prenait part à la 5e course de la 4e journée, avait pris la 4e place à moins de trois longueurs du vainqueur East Coast Gold après avoir creusé un écart considérable au 500m.

Le communiqué de l’enquête se lit comme suit :

« An inquiry was held into the handling of Key of Gold. Trainer S. Ramdin explained that he instructed jockey Herholdt to endeavour to jump well, secure the lead and once in front to control the race and catch a break on the field from the 400 metres as this horse had a tendency to lay in in the final straight. He added that the horse had pleased the stable in the lead up to the race and that it was fancied and it was supported by stable connections. Jockey Herholdt confirmed these instructions and said that he did not expect Key Of Gold to hang from the start as he had not been hanging at track work. He explained that after jumping well he managed to secure the lead but that from leaving the 1000 metres Key Of Gold had been racing fiercely and laying in badly and that near the 700 metres brushed the running rails and again approaching the 400 metres where he decided to give this gelding a crack with the whip in view of getting him off the rails. When questioned, jockey Herholdt explained that he might have made a mistake by moving too early. Trainer Ramdin confirmed that jockey Herholdt might have moved too early. After consideration, jockey Herholdt pleaded guilty to a charge under MTC Rule 160 A (i) for failing to ride Key Of Gold to the satisfaction of the Stewards, the particulars being that by the 450 metres when being about 5 lengths in front of the second horse, he unnecessarily urged his mount forward when there was an opportunity for him to wait longer and give his mount a breather, this being counterproductive to the chances of Key Of Gold. He was subsequently suspended from riding in races for two Mauritian race meetings and fined Rs.30,000. »