Counties R 13 October 2010 - R 6 (instigating a protest)
642(1)
RACEDAY JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DECISION
Informant: Mr K Verner
Defendant: Ms L Saunders
Information No: 060 (Instigating a protest)
Meeting: Counties Racing
Date: 13 October 2010
Venue: Pukekohe
Race: 6
Rule No: 642 (1)
Judicial Committee: R Seabrook, Chairman – G Tankard, Committee Member
Also Present: Mr A Tweedie (Trainer) and Mr C Ormsby (Jockey) - COURIER
Mr K Verner (Trainer) and Mrs T Thornton (Jockey) - COSROCKS
FACTS:
Following race 6 a protest was lodged pursuant to rule 642 (1). The informant, Mr K Verner, alleged that COURIER, placed third by the judge, caused interference to COSROCKS, placed fourth by the judge. He alleged the interference occurred in the final straight.
The official margin between third and fourth was half a head.
SUBMISSION(s):
Mr Verner said it was clear there was outward movement from COURIER in the run up the straight which forced his horse COSROCKS to change ground to the inside of that runner. He stated his horse had run on generously after that and with only a half head margin at the post believed it cost COSROCKS third place.
Mrs Thornton, rider of COSROCKS, confirmed Mr Verner’s statement and said the outward movement from COURIER forced her to go back round that runner and lose momentum. She was in no doubt this cost her third placing.
Mr Tweedie, trainer of COURIER, conceded there was outward movement from his horse but stated that he was at least 1½ lengths clear at the time. He said Mr Ormsby was just nursing COURIER to the line and was never in danger of losing third place.
Mr Ormsby said COURIER was racing greenly and wanted to float out to the outside horses. He stated he finished strongly in the run to the post.
Mr Coles, when asked for his appraisal of the incident, agreed there was interference to COSROCKS when COURIER moved out. He said COURIER was a bare length clear of COSROCKS when moving out and Mrs Thornton had to stop riding for 6 strides. Mr Coles said however that from the 350 to the 100 metres COSROCKS was not making ground on COURIER. He said the committee had to decide whether the interference was sufficient to say that COSROCKS would have beaten COURIER.
DECISION:
The committee carefully considered all evidence and viewed both films at length. It was clearly evident on the films that Mrs Thornton had to restrain her mount to cross the heels of COURIER when that horse moved out into her line. As shown on the film COURIER was only a bare length clear of COSROCKS when taking that horse’s line. The committee is clearly of the view that this outward movement forced COSROCKS out 2 horse widths. The films clearly showed that in the final 50 metres COSROCKS was making good ground on COURIER to get within a short head at the post.
Accordingly for the above reasons the committee is satisfied that if interference had not occurred COSROCKS would have beaten COURIER. Therefore the protest is upheld and the placings shall now be:
4 MR KUNOFF - 1st
13 THE PROPHECY - 2nd
11 COSROCKS - 3rd
3 COURIER - 4th
