Adeewin opened up an amazing, 12-length lead and was eight lengths clear going into the straight, but weakened to finish near the tail.

Murrihy queried Tse as to how many rides he had during the week in Hong Kong and the jockey, through an interpreter, said: 'about five or six'. In fact, he had ridden eight horses this season prior to last night's meeting, which was the eighth of the season.

Asked how he had tried to restrain Adeewin, Tse replied that he tried by using his hands and his voice. 'Well, it didn't work, did it?' said Murrihy.

'My sentiments entirely,' said trainer Thomsen, who was reportedly aghast when told that Tse would be riding the horse. After a brilliant recent win in Melbourne he had gone on record as saying that Tse was not in consideration.

Murrihy told the three that the rules permitted the stewards to reject a jockey's engagement, and that Tse would need permission from the stewards before accepting another Sydney ride.

Tse's Australian woes are not new. He fell foul of punters, racing writers and trainer Thomsen over his handling of the superb Danewin on a couple of occasions several years ago.

That too was owned by Yam, who has been undeniably loyal to the local rider who was once champion apprentice and seemed destined for a bright future.

Ironically, Jacqwin, owned in similar Yam interests and one of Tse's four winners last season, was ridden to victory recently by David Hayes' stable apprentice, Peter Y. S. Wong.

Four years can be a lifetime in racing, and it probably felt like that to suspended jockey Eric Saint-Martin last night.

In 1993, Saint-Martin gained his biggest career victory on the Hong Kong-owned Urban Sea in the Arc - a result and a ride that did much to spring him to international prominence.

Now he ponders his appeal against a 14-day ban for reckless riding and an uncertain future. Time for reflection rather than champagne.

His victory in Europe's great race four years ago made it the second time a son had emulated his famous father in winning the Arc.

Yves Saint-Martin, considered one of the greatest riders ever produced by France, won the race in 1970 on Sassafras, downing the colours of the magnificent Nijinsky in one of the most talked-about finishes in the history of the race.

Did the well-nigh infallible Lester Piggott leave modern racing's greatest hero with too much ground to make up? The elder Saint-Martin made it an Arc treble when scoring on the Aga Khan's Akiyda in 1982, and then on Sagace for none other than Patrick Biancone two years later.

And there could scarcely be a stronger Hong Kong connection about the other father-and-son combination successful in the Longchamps spectacular.

It was back in 1959 that George Moore won the race on Saint Crispin for his friend, Alec Head. Spin the clock forward 21 years and George was ruling the training roost in Hong Kong with son Gary champion jockey.

Gary jetted off to Paris and rode rank outsider Gold River to victory in the 1980 renewal - for Alec Head.

If it's any comfort to Saint-Martin the younger, at least he can continue to come to Sha Tin and ride trackwork.

The younger Moore has been banned by the Jockey Club from going near the trainers' stand or into the paddock.

Changed times, indeed.

The imperturbable Patrick Biancone is nothing if not forward-thinking.

On the eve of the Arc, which he won twice with All Along and Sagace, and in which a record-breaking treble was taken from him in the inquiry room, the French trainer was asked if he did not hanker at times for those great days and great races now that he is a permanent Hong Kong resident.

'No. If you live your life by looking backwards, you are finished. I love watching the Arc when it comes round and it is very good that Hong Kong racegoers can now see it live every year.

'I look forward, not backwards. I will probably retire to France - but not yet, eh? Well, I hope not anyway,' he said.

As do we all.