Biancone heading for third sitting

Master French trainer Patrick Biancone must return to the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club headquarters again this afternoon to find out the result of his appeal against a $250,000 drugs fine.

The multiple Group One-winning handler spent over three hours with the appeal panel yesterday before it decided it needed more time to deliberate.

'I've no complaints with the way the hearing has progressed but I must come back tomorrow at 3 pm', was the only comment Biancone would make as he left the now twice-adjourned appeal.

Biancone was fined the $250,000 after he was found to have breached Rule 58 (i) sub-section (b) of the Club's Rules of Racing which deals with a trainer having responsibility for virtually everything that occurs within his own stable.

Biancone contests that he was in anyway responsible for what was found to be an 'indiscriminate administration of a prohibited substance [Sputolosin] contrary to the dosage prescribed by the Club's veterinary surgeons'.

Sputolosin is a decongestant antibiotic which is not thought to be directly performance-enhancing.

The appeal panel is comprised of Jockey Club chairman Sir John Swaine, Andrew Li and Mike Thornhill.

Darryll Holland also faces the stewards today when he appeals against the licensing committee's decision not to allow him to ride here next season.