HE'S going to lose a few hours beauty sleep but starter Mike Tibbatts could be well on his way to defusing the unfortunate situation that arose recently with our licensed trainers.
Tibbatts, who has been going up the ladder and pressing the button that sends them on their way for eight years, is not a pin-up boy with the 24 trainers who recently signed a petition asking for him to be replaced.
But Tibbatts is happily prepared to make the trek from his Beas River encampment to Sha Tin on most weekday mornings so that horses can be sent regularly through the starting stalls.
''I will be on hand to assist trainers who might want to put them through at the top of the straight. It's actually something I have wanted to do for some time,'' he said yesterday.
And Tibbatts, whose racing background includes a stint in Iran when the Shah's empire was tottering, is hopeful that this increasing co-operation will take the confrontational aspect out of recent proceedings.
The starter's initiative is commendable and deserves support. And what's a few hours lost sleep anyway. Certainly better than losing a job.