Otago RC 15 October 2010 - R 6 (instigating a protest)
642(1)
RACEDAY JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DECISION
Information No: 364 (Instigating a protest)
Meeting: Otago Racing Club
Date: 15 October 2010
Venue: Wingatui
Race: 6
Rule No: 642(1)
Judicial Committee: Geoff Hall, Chairman – J Eagles, Committee Member
Plea: N/A
PROTEST:
Ms Lunn, the rider of the 2nd placed horse SELENUS, alleged that OUTLAW QUEEN or its rider, placed 1st by the Judge caused interference to SELENUS. The interference allegedly occurred in the final stages.
Judge’s placings were:
1st OUTLAW QUEEN
2nd SELENUS
3rd ROBBIEMJAY
4TH WHODUNNIT
Margins were ¾ of length, a nose, and a head.
SUBMISSIONS:
Ms Lunn, the rider of SELENUS, alleged that OUTLAW QUEEN had shifted in when mounting a run some 200 metres from the winning post and, in so doing, had come into her running line. She said SELENUS had hesitated and that she had lost 2 lengths as a consequence of the movement from OUTLAW QUEEN. She said she had had to change ground before continuing to mount her run.
Mr P Harris, the trainer of SELENUS, was not at the course and permission was granted for Mr M Pitman to represent him once it was established that Mr Pitman had not had a runner in the race. Mr Pitman confirmed Ms Lunn’s statement that the interference had cost her at least 2 lengths at a significant point in the race and he emphasised that the margin between 1st and 2nd was only ¾ of a length.
Mr Carston, stable foreman for the trainer of OUTLAW QUEEN, Mr J Sargent, stated he did not believe Ms Lunn had stopped riding and also disputed that she had had to change ground as a result of the inwards movement by OUTLAW QUEEN.
Mr Davidson, stipendiary steward, was asked to comment on the evidence. He emphasised that there had been interference to OUTLAW QUEEN and to 2 other horses and that the winning margin was ¾ of a length. When questioned as to whether in his view SELENUS had lost 2 lengths, as had been alleged, he said he believed the horse had been held up for 2 strides.
DECISION:
We find that OUTLAW QUEEN did shift inwards when mounting a winning run near the 200 metres mark. In so doing, OUTLAW QUEEN moved into the rightful running line of SELENUS and caused a concertina effect, which inconvenienced both SELENUS and 2 of the horses that were racing on that horse’s inner.
The effect of this interference was that SELENUS lost momentum for a couple of strides. We do not find that SELENUS had to change ground before continuing its run.
The winning margin was ¾ of a length. We do not believe that the interference cost SELENUS 2 lengths. The inconvenience to SELENUS was momentary and both horses ran on strongly. OUTLAW QUEEN had come from behind SELENUS and, while SELENUS was making ground on OUTLAW QUEEN in the last 50 metres, OUTLAW QUEEN, which was wearing blinkers, was still showing plenty of fight. Rule 642(1) requires us to be of the opinion that SELENUS would have finished ahead of OUTLAW QUEEN had the interference not occurred. We are not so satisfied and we thus exercise our discretion and dismiss the protest.
A further protest by the 4th placed horse was subsequently withdrawn.
