Canterbury Racing - 26 June 2010 - R 7

RACEDAY JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DECISION

Informant:  M Davidson - Stipendiary Steward

Defendant:  Z Zulkifli

Information No:  5626

Meeting:  Canterbury Racing (Amberley)

Date:  26 June 2010

Venue:  Riccarton Park

Race:  7

Rule No:  636 (1)(c)

Judicial Committee:  KG Hales, Chairman - P Rosanowski, Committee Member

Plea:  Admitted

Also Present:  Mr L Didham, Licensed Trainer

FACTS: 

As a result of Mr Zulkifli’s riding actions in the final stages of Race 7, he was charged with a breach of Rule 636 (1)(c).

Rule 636(1)(c) reads as follows:

“A person:

(c)        being the rider of a horse in a race, must ride his horse out to the end of the race if there is a reasonable chance of it running into a position for which there is prize money to be awarded, or a dividend to be declared;”

It was alleged that Mr Zulkifli failed to give the horse “Albufeira” every chance of finishing in a better position.  Mr Zulkifli has admitted the charge, which is therefore deemed to be proved.  As a consequence of being beaten for fifth position, the connections of the horse were deprived of stake money of $250. 

SUBMISSIONS ON PENALTY:

The incident was demonstrated to the hearing by Mr AR Coles, Stipendiary Steward.  He showed the hearing how Mr Zulkifli was, around the 400 metre mark, running well clear of two other horses in fifth position.

At approximately the 300 metre mark, Mr Zulkifli “stood up” in the stirrups, and pulled his goggles down.  He then proceeded to ride the horse without any vigour, to the finishing post.  However, in the “shadows of the winning post” “Kenny Starfighter” ridden by TR Moseley, moved up alongside of him, and as a consequence, took fifth place by a margin of somewhere between a long neck and half a length.

By way of explanation, Mr Zulkifli told the hearing that with approximately 800 metres to go, he became aware that his horse was tiring rapidly.  He showed us, using the rear on-view of the film, that just prior to the 400 metre mark, how he gave his mount two strokes of the whip, and he said that did not seem to make very much difference to it.  As a consequence, he simply allowed the horse to gallop at its own pace to the finishing post.  In the process, he did not appreciate that “Kenny Starfighter” was closing in on him.  He acknowledged his error of judgment that he should have demonstrated some vigour in his riding action, but failed to do so.

PENALTY SUBMISSIONS:

Mr Davidson told the hearing that Mr Zulkifli is a promising young rider, and is now a 2 kg claiming apprentice.  He has not been charged for a breach of Rule 636(1)(c) before.  He said that he is quite a busy rider, riding up to four or five rides at each race meeting that he attends.  Mr Davidson submitted that a fine in the region of $200 to $300 was an appropriate penalty in this instance.

In response, Mr Didham, on Mr Zulkifli’s behalf, remarked that in his opinion, that was a very fair recommendation. 

PENALTY DECISION AND REASONS

We delivered the following oral penalty decision on Race Day:

“Mr Zulkifli has admitted the charge at an early opportunity, and he will be given credit for that.  He told the hearing that he was well beaten, and having hit the horse a couple of times prior to the 400 metre mark, he realised that he was not going to finish in a dividend-bearing position and therefore, did not want to beat a well-beaten horse.

However, the Rule is a most important Rule for every jockey to follow, and had Mr Zulkifli been beaten for a dividend bearing position, then the penalty which we are about to impose would have been substantially greater.

Even though the amount of stake money involved is only $250, the principle remains the same.  Vigour must be shown until a horse is past the winning post. 

We have given consideration to Mr Davidson’s submission that a fine, in this instance, is appropriate, that fine being in the range of $200 to $300.  Mr Didham considered that a fair submission on penalty.

Mr Zulkifli is an up and coming apprentice, being a 2 kg claimer, and is riding four to five rides per meeting.  He has a good record.  We give him credit for that.

PENALTY

A fine of $200 will be imposed.”

K Hales                        P Rosanowski

CHAIRMAN                 Committee Member

5626