Little effect from mafoos' work-to-rule
A work-to-rule invoked by the mafoos' union will continue, although the Jockey Club's racing manager, John Ridley, will conduct a further in-depth investigation into a dispute involving Tony Cruz's stable.
But the mafoos' action was expected to have little to no effect on the regular stable routine at Sha Tin, with several trainers saying it was a case of work as usual yesterday when the action officially began.
A mafoo in the Cruz stable was sacked by stables' manager Bernard Kwok for not showing up for work - he had already been warned - and that prompted the work-to-rule decision.
That came after a meeting of the once-powerful Association of Chinese Employees (ACE), but there has been lacklustre support for the action in individual stables. The work-to-rule should mean mafoos do only two horses and do not cover for other stable employees who are on a day off.
One trainer said: 'Nothing at all has been affected in the regular routine of my stable and I don't expect it to.' The mafoo involved in the dispute will continue his duties pending the outcome of Ridley's investigation.
'I think that is a very logical action. After all, a right of appeal against a decision is something all of us should be entitled to,' said Ridley last night.
The ACE action is unlikely to win them many friends and the body has already lost much of its power. Protocols are in place which would stop any lightning strikes or severe industrial action.
More significantly, about 1,000 applied for just 80 positions as mafoos the last time the Jockey Club advertised the position. The introduction of female mafoos - there are currently 99 on the job - has also changed the face of the ACE.
Meanwhile, gallant Hong Kong International Cup runner-up Oriental Express has become the first locally trained horse to be included in the International Classifications which have been published in London.
The ratings are agreed by an international panel of official handicappers and their assessments are used to gauge the standards for allocating Group status.
Oriental Express has an international rating of 110 following his heart-breaking short-head defeat by Val's Prince in the showpiece Group Two event last month. Val's Prince, which carried a five-pound Group One-winning penalty in the race, is now rated on 122.
