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Friday 11 April 1997 23:02 BST
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The trainer James Fanshawe and jockey Neil Varley were punished after being found guilty under the non-triers' rule at Nottingham yesterday. Fanshawe was fined pounds 1,400, the minimum for the offence, and Varley suspended for seven days (21 to 28 April) over the running and riding of Green Power in the Bassingfield Maiden Stakes over a mile. The Green Desert gelding, who was making his reappearance, made headway towards the lead inside the final furlong without being unduly punished to finish fifth behind China Red, beaten around eight and a half lengths. The run caught the attention of the stewards, who found the trainer and jockey in breach of Jockey Club Rule 151. After a lengthy inquiry, senior stewards' secretary William Nunneley said: "The stewards found that Green Power was not ridden to obtain his best possible placing. He was not put into the race and at no time was he asked for an effort." Varley made no comment but Fanshawe is considering an appeal against his punishment, which also includes a 30-day suspension from running for Green Power, beginning next Tuesday. "I will think about that," said the trainer. "It seems quite steep - the stewards have gone for gold, I'm afraid. But the horse is very unsound and hadn't run since last August. When he came into the final furlong he hung to his left, and Neil could not ride him out through the last furlong."

Frankie Dettori was en route to Hong Kong last night to ride Godolphin's Annus Mirabilis in the Group One Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin tomorrow. Godolphin and Dettori teamed up to win the prize last year with Overbury and Annus Mirabilis has every chance of repeating the feat. The five-year- old has already made his mark abroad, capturing a Group Two race worth over pounds 400,000 in Japan last October under Darryll Holland. New Zealander Sapio was second in this mile-and-a-quarter-race last year and runs again but South African challenger and joint top-weight London News, could prove a more potent threat. Others with chances include Indigenous and Deauville. Godolphinhave taken the precaution of putting Philip Robinson on standby in the event of Dettori's being delayed.

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