 Trainer Lee Curtis is planning on a Group One
triumph for his talented gelding Mistegic after it was announced today Stewards would be
unable to lodge an appeal into a decision to overturn an original disqualification from a
Group win in Melbourne.The past three months has
been nothing short of hectic for the Sydney based trainer, who is now just "glad it
all seems to be over."
"To hear that the Stewards are unable to appeal is
good as it all might be finally put to rest," Curtis told Cyberhorse.
In a statement released this afternoon Racing Victoria
Limited (RVL) said that the "Stewards have received Queen's Counsel legal advice that
they are unable to appeal against the decision by the RVL Racing Appeals Board which saw
Mistegic re-instated as the winner of the Schillaci Stakes run at Caulfield on October 13,
2001."
 "Current legislation, introduced in July
2001, allows the Stewards to appeal against the decision of the Racing Appeals Board on an
appeal to it against a penalty originally imposed by the Stewards. Penalty is defined in
the legislation to be a Warning Off, Disqualification, Suspension or Fine imposed against
a person. However the disqualification of a horse where no penalty was imposed against a
person, as in the Mistegic instance, does not give the Stewards a right of appeal to the
Racing Appeals Tribunal."
Curtis and the owners of Mistegic now now look to the
future with the exciting son of Strategic who is set to run in the Group One The Galaxy at
Randwick on Saturday.
"The horse is looking good and hopefully he can be
around the mark in the Galaxy," Curtis said.
The gelding didn't receive the ideal alley at today's
barrier draw. He has drawn barrier twelve in the field of 15.
"We would have liked to have drawn a little better but
there is always a fair bit of speed in a race like the Galaxy and hopefully we are able
just to slot in just behind the leaders."
 "He's eating well and the track rider reports
he is feeling very good," an upbeat Curtis reported.
Curtis said Mistegic may have one more run depending on how
he pulls up after the Galaxy.
"We'll look at running in the TJ Smith if he does well
after Saturday but after that he would definitely be going for a spell with the spring in
mind," he added.
The Group One Salinger Stakes over the Melbourne Cup
Carnival at Flemington has already been earmarked as the race he will be set for next
preparation.
It's been a big week for the connections of Mistegic. On
Saturday they were officially presented with the inaugural Schillaci Silver Arrow for
being Melbourne's leading sprinter over the Autumn/Australian Cup Carnival in Victoria.
PICS - Quentin
Lang. |
