A plan comes together for Platino Bianco Platino Bianco (18/1) held on from fast-finishing She's On The Ball in the Rose Hotel Handicap at Listowel. The five-year-old grey mare was bustled away from the stalls by Robert Whearty to take an early lead and dictated thereafter. She was ridden to try and assert a furlong and a half down and was still boxing away a furlong out. Imperial Dream and Brains were the closest pursuers well inside the final furlong, but they couldn't get on terms as Platino Bianco was straining for the line. She's On The Ball rattled home from well back, however, the 9/2 joint favourite was half a length in arrears at the winning post. Brains was the same distance away in third at 11/2. Conor Maxwell said: "Robert has won on her in the past and both times I told him to be forceful on her, as at home nothing can go with her. She is a better work-horse than racehorse but, when she gets her head in front, she toughs it out really well. "She likes having a bit of room, that's the key to her and Robert was able to fill her up. When she gets it her own way in front, she would die for you although it was hard work getting her to lead in the early stages today. "It was nice to do it for the owner Breen White, who had four runners in the race and I had three of them. Tariff was the one we really fancied although the ground was probably tight enough for him. "Getting any festival winner is great, but we had decided to work back from this one for Breen and ran everything we could for him. He comes for a few days and likes to have runners here." The Raceday Stewards received a report from the Clerk of the Scales, Mr. H. Hynes, that S. Coen, rider of unplaced Cisterna, presented himself at scales and attempted to weigh out wearing a body protector with the harness removed. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned who stated that he forgot to put it on. Having considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards found S. Coen in breach of Regulation 10 (b) and having considered his clean record in this regard, they suspended him for seven racedays. Furthermore, the Raceday Stewards referred S. Coen to the IHRB Senior Medical Officer to reassess his minimum riding weight. The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident on the bend leaving the back straight involving Gloriously Glam, ridden by J.J.G. Ryan, Cisterna, ridden by S. Coen, Imperial Dream, ridden by R. Donaghue-Leahy, and Tamazu, ridden by J.A. Heffernan, where it appeared Cisterna made contact with the railing. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. S. Coen stated that he was three parts of a length down on Tamazu and got shuffled back. J.A. Heffernan stated that Imperial Dream switched in on him. R. Donaghue-Leahy stated that her mount lugged in slightly. J.J.G. Ryan stated that he got shuffled back. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards found R. Donaghue-Leahy was in breach of Rule 214 in that she had ridden carelessly, and having considered her clean record in this regard the Raceday Stewards suspended her for two racedays. Additional reporting by Tom Weekes
