Racing: Fine for dallying Dettori

LANFRANCO DETTORI was fined pounds 500 by the stewards at Chester yesterday after being caught on the line on board a 4- 9 favourite, Southern Power.

To many in the stands - who stated their opinion loudly - it appeared Dettori had been trying to win cosily and was caught by the apprentice Stephen Davies on Shalbourne. Dettori saw it differently.

'I saw the other one coming,' he said. 'I didn't drop my hands. When he came to me, I was pushing and pushing. Southern Power couldn't quicken in the heavy ground and the grass was long too.'

The stewards decided, however, that he had ridden an 'injudicious race'. Dettori's initial reaction was to appeal, but he later decided against it.