Waikato RC 11 June 2011 – R 8 (instigating a protest)

Following race 8 Mrs. Murdoch, trainer of the second placed horse OFF THE TOP, lodged a protest pursuant to rule 642(1). She alleged that DEMOPHON, placed first by the judge, caused interference to OFF THE TOP in the final straight.
The judge’s placings were as follows:
1st DEMOPHON no. 4
2nd OFF THE TOP no. 5
3rd WIMOWEH no.2
The official margin between 1st and 2nd was a long neck.

Mrs. Murdoch demonstrated the alleged incident using the head on and side on video films. She said Miss Collett rider of OFF THE TOP had to stop riding her mount with the whip in the final 100 metres when DEMOPHON drifts across on her. She submitted the worst of the interference occurred right on the line with Miss Collett having to sit up 2 strides before the finish line. She believed OFF THE TOP had a good chance of winning but for the interference.
Miss Collett said OFF THE TOP was racing in blinkers and still green. She submitted that for the last 5 strides she eased up on her mount due to DEMOPHON drifting in and she was only giving it 75% in the run to the finish line.
Mr Alderslade submitted that DEMOPHON moved in about 10 metres in the closing 50 metres of the race and in doing so took OFF THE TOP with it. He believed the last little bit of interference close to the finish line was the icing on the cake.
Mr Colgan said he knew his horse drifted in, however he has never made contact with OFF THE TOP and there was always a space and a half between the 2 horses. He believed it was only the last 2 strides prior to the finish line where they have touched.
Mr Allen submitted that the only interference that occurred was right on the finish line. He believed OFF THE TOP was never going to get past DEMOPHON.
Mr Oatham submitted that OFF THE TOP does shift away from DEMOPHON over the concluding stages of the race. He believed there was always a clear margin between the 2 horses with the actual interference occurring a stride or 2 before the finish line. He said DEMOPHON had established a long neck advantage which was held to the finish line.
Mrs. Murdoch when given the opportunity to sum up had nothing further to add.

The committee carefully considered all evidence and submissions and reviewed the video films.  While we concede DEMOPHON does shift in over the concluding stages it was only the last 2 strides that interference did occur. At this point we firmly believe that DEMOPHON was always holding a comfortable advantage over OFF THE TOP in the run to the finish line, the official margin been a long neck. The head on film shows there was always a clear gap between the 2 horses. The films show that Miss Collett continued to ride OFF THE TOP forward over the last 100 metres without making ground on DEMOPHON. Therefore we are not satisfied that OFF THE TOP would have beaten DEMOPHON had interference not occurred.