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DEBONAIR Patrick Biancone has an important date next month - he's getting married.

 It has been quite a time recently for the Frenchman who had every reason to celebrate the excellent win of Bumper Star in the final event yesterday.

   And last week he saddled up a big-priced Happy Valley double to put an early headlock on the trainers' championship.

   On the home front, too, things were moving apace.

   Patrick slipped away discreetly to Paris 10 days ago and revealed that he will be returning to the French capital when we take a break from racing at the Christmas period. And he won't be alone.

   The affable mentor will wed former Miss Hong Kong, Elaine Sung, in what is likely to be a high-profile society affair - whether he wants it or not.

   Patrick and Elaine have been something of an item - as we believe it is termed - over the past 20 months or so and will put an official seal on a partnership that has graced the society pages of our newspapers on a fairly regular basis.

   Patrick, who takes everything in his stride, accepted congratulations with a gracious flick of the wrist and said: 'The arrangements have been made. Yes, we are looking forward to it.'   Felicitations, notre cher ami.

    THERE was a touch of high drama at the Sha Tin complex in the early hours of Saturday morning which ended with the local constabulary apprehending a fellow who had no discernible right to be on the premises.

   On top of that, he was carrying a bag containing a variety of instruments which could have been used to effect entry to trainers' apartments on the racecourse.

   It all began shortly after 3 am when alarm bells went off at the Chubb security centre which monitors apartments and offices on the racecourse.

   The police were immediately notified and hot-footed it to Sha Tin as more alarm bells began to go off.

   The apartments of trainers Geoff Lane, David Oughton and Kenny Kam were involved in the scare, plus that of Asian Racing Conference permanent secretary, Jamie Barber.

   Meanwhile, the Jockey Club's own Security Department swung into action and came across a man departing the scene via a back entrance. Not surprisingly, he was unable to offer a logical explanation for his presence on the premises at that time of the morning.

   He was held until police arrived to remove him for some further questioning.

    THE day started brightly for Vickie C. W. Choi when he was presented with his Apprentice of the Month plaque by the chief executive, General Guy Watkins in the paddock before the opening event.

   Neatly demonstrating just what an up-and-down game racing can be, he ended the afternoon with a six-meeting suspension following a bizarre ride on Polar Star.

   However, young Choi could well consider himself lucky to have received the plaque at all.

   It will surely be remembered that midway through last month Simon H. K. Yim, without doubt the most improved apprentice in racing here, won three races on a single programme - itself a record-breaking achievement for an apprentice in recent years.

   But it wasn't enough to impress the powers that matter and Simon will simply have to wait his turn.

    GIVEN the laws of libel and the fact that we are basically decent chaps anyway, we don't tell you everything that comes our way . . . juicy though some of the tales undoubtedly are. We are now camouflaging the names to protect the guilty in this little yarn.

   After a recent night meeting one chappie who has something to do with the Jockey Club - no department mentioned - was heading homewards in the equivalent of a company car.

   Clearly, the fellow in question would be no threat to Damon Hill or Michael Schumacher as he unfortunately left the road and ended up in a ditch.

   It was almost certainly the result of pure tiredness at the end of a very long and hectic day's work.

    THE Stipendiary Stewards faithfully reported yesterday that Seattle Wind, who had a strained off fore tendon following his race last Wednesday, will be required to pass an official barrier trial, followed by veterinary examination.

  They could have saved their time, the horse was officially retired two days after the race.



French ace Biancone to tie the knot with Elaine