Hong Kong Jockey Club stewards found no rider was to blame for the incident that put jockey Steve Drowne in hospital and resulted in the death of English filly Jwala after an inquiry into the "catastrophic" fall in the frantic final stages of Sunday's Longines Group One Hong Kong Sprint.
Drowne was to undergo surgery on his broken left collarbone on Tuesday night, but earlier in the day he left his hospital bed and, with his arm in a sling, gave evidence into the dramatic incident that brought Jwala down with 50 metres to go in the race and ultimately saw her die on the track.
Six other riders had already given evidence after the HK$15 million race at Sha Tin, and after Drowne fronted the inquiry at Happy Valley stewards found that blame could not be attributed to a single rider.
"The stewards determined that this incident, while severe and with catastrophic consequences, did not eventuate as a result of careless, reckless or dangerous riding exhibited by an individual rider, rather the incident was caused by a considerable number of circumstances occurring in close proximity which ultimately resulted in Jwala falling. Accordingly, no further action was taken," the stewards said.
Jwala fell after clipping heels when crowded for room between Charles The Great, ridden by Douglas Whyte, on her inside and from the outside by Lucky Nine (Brett Prebble), but stipes concluded the incident was caused by a chain reaction that began at least 100 metres earlier.
Even though many felt it was Whyte's riding that would come under most scrutiny in the inquiry, stewards deemed he had taken a run that he was entitled to, after which he was taken onto the running of Jwala.
"Inside the 200m, and at around the 150m, there was a clear run for Charles The Great, there wasn't acres of room, but there was room for a horse to progress into that run, and that if there was no shift from the inside then he would have progressed into that run easily," chief steward Kim Kelly told the Post after the inquiry.
"In fact, had he not positioned Charles The Great to take a run like that in any given race the stewards would be entitled to ask why, whether it be in a Group One or a Class Five handicap.
"Once he commits to that gap, and he is outside the heels of Go Baby Go, he is entitled to think that horse will maintain a straight course and not shift out further."
On Sunday, stewards heard from Brett Prebble, Whyte, Wayne Lordan (Slade Power), Johnny Murtagh (Sole Power), Ryan Moore (Rich Tapestry) and Tye Angland (Go Baby Go).
Drowne, who also suffered a tear of his lung, had stated his preference to return home to England for an operation, but after medical advice was to go into surgery and will be assessed on Wednesday for his suitability to fly home.
