An unsigned but official Jockey Club press release regarding the stable transfer of $3.6 million galloper Quick Commander has sparked an internal inquiry plus a protest and request for answers from former champion trainer Ivan Allan.
The release, now known to have come from the office of senior stipendiary steward Clinton P. Pitts Jnr, was issued on Monday night without the authority or knowledge of information secretary Wilson Cheng.
Two members of his department, who sent out the two-paragraph release, were censured yesterday.
Last night, the Jockey Club issued a statement, signed by Cheng, which said: 'Following the recent events over the stable transfer of Quick Commander, racing management has today held discussions and undertaken to conduct an immediate review of the stable transfer procedures.
'Trainers will be consulted on this matter and asked to contribute their thoughts at tomorrow's routine meeting with racing management.' There is a meeting with all trainers after trackwork today. The incident began at Sha Tin after Saturday's fixture when Allan gave leading trainer Tony Cruz a transfer form for Quick Commander, who topped the 1997 International Sale.
Witnesses spoke of a heated exchange between the pair, with Allan ultimately giving the unsigned form to the director of racing, Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges.
