Club hoping Megi will stay clear of Sha Tin meeting
The Jockey Club's racing committee will meet later today to discuss contingency plans as the shadow of typhoon Megi looms over Sunday's vital Sha Tin showpiece.
With the Mission Hills Sha Tin Trophy and Premier Bowl featuring the return of a number of star gallopers aimed at the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Races events in December, the fixture is one the Club desperately wants to go ahead.
'The latest information we have is that the worst of the storm could hit on Saturday night or Sunday morning,' said executive director of racing Bill Nader last night.
'We hate to lose any meeting, but these two features are particularly important in preparing horses for the internationals. In terms of our preparation, we'll keep doing everything we can, keep trying to get the best intel we can and hope to get lucky with the weather.
'But the racing committee will discuss what options we have for rescheduling the two features as soon as possible if we do happen to have a problem.'
The last meeting to be called off due to adverse weather was a Happy Valley fixture in June, 2008, when typhoon Fengshen forced a cancellation.
Meanwhile, Gerald Mosse has had a victory of sorts in his appeal against a careless riding ban imposed after last Saturday's Caulfield Cup in Australia.
Mosse was initially suspended until October 28 for his ride on Mr Medici, then appealed, gaining a stay of proceedings that allowed him to pilot Americain in Wednesday's Geelong Cup win, which has catapulted the French-trained stayer to the forefront of Melbourne Cup discussions.
Yesterday's appeal resulted in Mosse's ban being upheld and he will still resume riding on October 28, but had the penalty reduced by the days that covered his stay of proceedings. He has been replaced on two bookings for Sha Tin on Sunday.
