Archive Decision

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R Tauranga 16 November 2019 – R 6 (request for ruling) – Chair, Mr A Godsalve

ID: JCA13318

Stipend Steward:
Mr M Williamson - Senior Stipendiary Steward

Information Number:
A11342

Hearing Type:
Request Ruling

Rules:
Rule 632(2)

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Racing Tauranga - 16 November 2019

Meet Chair:
AGodsalve

Meet Committee Member 1:
ADooley

Race Date:
2019/11/16

Race Number:
R6

Decision:

The Committee exercised its discretion under the provisions of Rule 632(2) and declared that they did not consider MELT had gained an unfair advantage by forcing its gate open, and confirmed its 2nd placing in the race.

Facts:

Following the running of Race 6, the Tauranga Hardware and Plumbing Handicap, an Information was filed by Mr Williamson in which he sought a request for a ruling. The Information stated "did MELT receive an unfair advantage by its barrier stall opening early".

Rule 632(2) states "If, in the opinion of the Judicial Committee, any horse gained an unfair advantage by its barrier stall malfunctioning and opening, or being forced, by such horse, open prior to the starter effecting a start, such horse may be declared a non-starter".

Submissions for Decision:

Using the available films Mr Williamson identified MELT on the head on film as it stood in barrier 6 just prior to the start. He pointed out that MELT had lunged forward and hit its gate forcing it open immediately prior to the other gates being opened by the Starter. Mr Williamson added that Mr Coleman had restrained MELT after a couple of strides.

Mr Coleman said that MELT had come out of the gate awkwardly after lunging forward and forcing it open. He added that his intention had been to ride the horse towards the rear of the field and what had transpired had actually disadvantaged the horse as it had taken a few strides to get it into its stride.

In summing up Mr Williamson said that MELT had hit its gate quite hard, and the Stewards believed that any advantage it may have gained had therefore been negated. Mr Williamson added that the Stewards did not however consider that MELT had gained any advantage and had placed the matter before the Committee as they believed it to be the correct course of action.

Reasons for Decision:

The Committee viewed the films of the start of the race from all available angles. It was clear that MELT had anticipated the start and charged its way through its gate. The gates on the other horses' stalls opened almost simultaneously. It was evident from the films that rider Mr Coleman had restrained MELT within a few strides and the horse was passed by a number of other runners. We also noted Mr Coleman's submission that he had intended riding MELT towards the rear of the field in any event.

JCA Decision Fields (raw)

Dmitry: This section contains all JCA fields migrated from the raw data.

Data from these fields should be mapped appropriately to display amongst the standard fields above; please make note of any values below that are missing in the above standard fields but should be there.

hearingid: 618c2ab2b5f41ea17b69abbbf2c96705


informantnumber: A11342


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge:


plea:


penaltyrequired:


decisiondate: 17/11/2019


hearing_title: R Tauranga 16 November 2019 - R 6 (request for ruling) - Chair, Mr A Godsalve


charge:


facts:

Following the running of Race 6, the Tauranga Hardware and Plumbing Handicap, an Information was filed by Mr Williamson in which he sought a request for a ruling. The Information stated "did MELT receive an unfair advantage by its barrier stall opening early".

Rule 632(2) states "If, in the opinion of the Judicial Committee, any horse gained an unfair advantage by its barrier stall malfunctioning and opening, or being forced, by such horse, open prior to the starter effecting a start, such horse may be declared a non-starter".


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:

Using the available films Mr Williamson identified MELT on the head on film as it stood in barrier 6 just prior to the start. He pointed out that MELT had lunged forward and hit its gate forcing it open immediately prior to the other gates being opened by the Starter. Mr Williamson added that Mr Coleman had restrained MELT after a couple of strides.

Mr Coleman said that MELT had come out of the gate awkwardly after lunging forward and forcing it open. He added that his intention had been to ride the horse towards the rear of the field and what had transpired had actually disadvantaged the horse as it had taken a few strides to get it into its stride.

In summing up Mr Williamson said that MELT had hit its gate quite hard, and the Stewards believed that any advantage it may have gained had therefore been negated. Mr Williamson added that the Stewards did not however consider that MELT had gained any advantage and had placed the matter before the Committee as they believed it to be the correct course of action.


reasonsfordecision:

The Committee viewed the films of the start of the race from all available angles. It was clear that MELT had anticipated the start and charged its way through its gate. The gates on the other horses' stalls opened almost simultaneously. It was evident from the films that rider Mr Coleman had restrained MELT within a few strides and the horse was passed by a number of other runners. We also noted Mr Coleman's submission that he had intended riding MELT towards the rear of the field in any event.


Decision:

The Committee exercised its discretion under the provisions of Rule 632(2) and declared that they did not consider MELT had gained an unfair advantage by forcing its gate open, and confirmed its 2nd placing in the race.


sumissionsforpenalty:


reasonsforpenalty:


penalty:


hearing_type: Request Ruling


Rules: Rule 632(2)


Informant:


JockeysandTrainer:


Otherperson:


PersonPresent: Mr M Coleman-Rider of MELT, Mr B Jones - Stipendiary Steward, Mrs K Zimmerman, stable representative for MELT


Respondent:


StipendSteward: Mr M Williamson - Senior Stipendiary Steward


raceid: 5694247657b508b744413e86c1cf9373


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R6


submittochair:


race_expappcomment:


race_km:


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race_chair:


race_pm1:


race_pm2:


meetid: 8c31975cf86575bd39abcb25a7075f54


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 1


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 16/11/2019


meet_title: Racing Tauranga - 16 November 2019


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: racing-tauranga


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: AGodsalve


meet_pm1: ADooley


meet_pm2: none


name: Racing Tauranga