A SIMPLE stable mix-up has led to the Patrick Biancone-trained Lyphard's Lad testing positive to a prohibited substance following his second placing at Sha Tin last weekend. Lyphard's Lad, whose feed is brand number M33, faces almost certain disqualification from the race after it was discovered that he received the feed for his stablemate Powernamic, brand number N33. Biancone, fresh from a double at the New Territories' venue, explained: 'My normal feed man had to go to the hospital and this was just the usual story, a simple and stupid mistake with the feeding but one that is impossible to totally control. 'Lyphard's Lad and Powernamic have very similar brand numbers and the replacement feeder gave them each other's feed. 'It is no more than that.' The substance involved is understood to be an antibiotic used to treat a minor throat infection. The race-meeting stewards will hold an inquiry into the matter at Happy Valley race course a week tomorrow to determine the level of guilt and blame. It would, however, be a major surprise if Biancone was subject to anything more than a nominal fine, if that. Meanwhile another jockey crashed out of racing yesterday when the Swedish star, Fredrek Johansson, was thrown from debutant The Lobbos prior to the start of the opening event. Johansson, riding here on a three-month Club Jockey's licence, was immediately taken to the nearby Prince of Wales Hospital where he was found to have injured a knee and an elbow in the fall. At this stage he is virtually certain to miss at least one meeting. English rider Alan Munro is also on the sidelines, while replacement Club Jockey Eric Saint-Martin has walked into a potentially plum ride on Citadeed on Wednesday night. The Group One-placed performer worked brilliantly yesterday morning and trainer Ivan Allan has offered Saint-Martin the ride if retaining jockey Basil Marcus fails in his appeal against a three-meeting careless-riding ban.
