Waikato RC - 1 October 2010 - R 10
636(1)(c)
RACEDAY JUDICIAL COMMITTEE DECISION
Informant: Mr A Coles
Defendant: Miss A Collett
Information No: 7566
Meeting: Waikato Racing Club
Date: 1 October 2010
Venue: Te Rapa
Race: 10
Rule No: 636 (1) (c)
Judicial Committee: R Seabrook, Chairman – G Tankard, Committee Member
Plea: Admitted
Also Present: Mr L Noble representing Miss A Collett
CHARGES:
Following race 10 an Information was filed pursuant to rule 636 (1) (c). The Informant Mr Coles alleged that Miss Collett failed to ride DREAMS UNWIND to the end of the race when there was a reasonable chance of it finishing in third place on its own.
FACTS:
Mr Williamson demonstrated the video films which clearly showed Miss A Collett, riding DREAMS UNWIND, stop riding her mount out approximately four strides from the winning post. This was apparent by Miss Collett dropping her hands and standing up in the saddle. This enabled HEAD HONCHO (C Grylls), who was on the outside of the track and finishing strongly, to get up and dead heat for third with DREAMS UNWIND.
SUBMISSION(s):
Miss Collett in admitting the breach said she had made an error of judgement by thinking she had reached the winning post. This is when she relaxed and stopped riding her mount out.
Mr Noble said it was clear on the films that Miss Collett had eased 2 strides before the post. He said it was just an error of judgement on Miss Collett’s part and that HEAD HONCHO had finished very quickly. Mr Noble added that Miss Collett had looked inside but may not have seen HEAD HONCHO on her outside as there was another horse obscuring her vision.
SUBMISSION(s) ON PENALTY:
Mr Coles said it was clear that Miss Collett had relaxed prior to the post. He said he had warned her earlier in the day when she had done the same thing but without the same consequences. Mr Coles said it was her responsibility to ride her mount out to the line which she failed to do on this occasion. He submitted this was Miss Collett’s second charge since she had started riding three months ago but asked the committee to take into account her inexperience and admission of the breach. He submitted a suspension of 2 to 4 weeks would be appropriate.
Mr Noble asked for leniency for Miss Collett as she was still very inexperienced.
Miss Collett said she did not have any future commitments.
REASON(s):
Before imposing an appropriate penalty the committee carefully considered all evidence and submissions as presented. Mitigating factors in this case were Miss Collett’s admission of the breach and her inexperience. While agreeing this was an error of judgement on Miss Collett’s part it was explained to her that the consequences of this breach were more serious than most careless riding charges. This is because the connections of the horse and the betting public were both adversely affected by Miss Collett not riding her mount out. Clearly DREAMS UNWIND would have finished third place on its own if she had done so.
PENALTY:
Accordingly after taking all the above factors into account the committee imposes a suspension on Miss Collett from riding in races for a period of two and a half weeks. This is to start after racing on 1 October and conclude after racing on 20 October 2010 (8 days).
