Auckland RC - 5 April 2010 - R 2

RACEDAY JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DECISION

Information No:  010

Meeting:  Auckland Racing Club

Date:  5 April 2010

Venue:  Ellerslie

Rule No:  642 (1)

Judicial Committee:  R Seabrook, Chairman – A Dooley Committee Member 

Following Race 2 a protest was lodged pursuant to Rule 642 (1).  The Informant Mr C Wood alleged that JUDES SHANI, placed first by the Judge, caused interference to HANDSOME MATES, placed second by the Judge.  The interference was alleged to have occurred rounding the home turn.  The margin between first and second was a head.

All parties were informed of the protest.

PRESENT AT THE ENQUIREY:

JUDES SHANI                 Miss O’Brien              Representing Trainer

                                     Mr Wiki                       Mrs S Martin

                                     Mr H Kasim                Jockey

                                     Mr D Dwyer                Representing Mr Kasim

HANDSOME MATES       Mr C Wood                Trainer

                                    Mr J Hart                    Owner

                                    Mr M Hills                   Jockey

The Informant, Mr C Wood, demonstrated the video films and pointed out to the hearing HANDSOME MATES receiving a bump on the home turn which put him off balance.  Mr Wood said he then received a second bump and from then on had no chance to regain his balance.  He believed the head margin at the post and the 3 kilo allowance which the winner claimed cost him the race.

Mr M Hills, rider of HANDSOME MATES, said he received 2 significant bumps and was pushed off his line which he believed cost him the race. 

When asked, Mr Hart had nothing to add.

Miss O’Brien said JUDES SHANI was holding its line and HANDSOME MATES had also lugged in.

Mr Wiki said JUDES SHANI kept a straight line all the way to the post.

Mr Kasim said he also received a bump from HANDSOME MATES and believed it had shied away from his mount.

Mr Dwyer said the bumps received by HANDSOME MATES were 400 metres from home and the second bump was contributed to by both horses.

Mr Oatham, when asked for his interpretation of the incident, said JUDES SHANI was laying out, but at the time of the second bump, HANDSOME MATES was laying in.  He stated the interference was 350 metres from the post and JUDES SHANI was rallying and holding HANDSOME MATES all the way up the straight.  He doubted that the protest should be upheld.

Mr Wood in summing up said his horse was put off balance and with the head margin at the post the protest should be upheld.

DECISION

The Committee carefully considered all evidence and reviewed the video films.  While we concede that HANDSOME MATES did receive a bump from JUDES SHANI on the home turn we are not satisfied HANDSOME MATES would have beaten JUDES SHANI if interference had not occurred.  This is because the interference took place 400 metres from home and the second bump was contributed to by HANDSOME MATES.  The Committee believes that HANDSOME MATES, who was racing in blinkers, had overreacted and shied away from JUDES SHANI.  It was also apparent that JUDES SHANI finished the race off strongly to the line and was always holding HANDSOME MATES for the entire run to the post.

Accordingly the protest is dismissed and the Judge’s placings shall stand.

Richard Seabrook                Adrian Dooley

CHAIR                                 Committee Member

010