Avondale JC – 9 December 2006 – Race 5

hearingid: 68d7eee62a2141c5b1c8252a213e496b

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hearing_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

startdate: 09/12/2006

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decisiondate: no date provided

hearing_title: Avondale JC - 9 December 2006 - Race 5

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Decision:

This is a protest under Rule 876 (1) of the Rules of Racing by Stipendiary Steward A R Coles following Race5 alleging that PRETORIUS or its rider placed third by the judge interfered with the chances of SEVENTH HEAVEN placed fourth

This is a protest under Rule 876 (1) of the Rules of Racing by Stipendiary Steward A R Coles following Race5 alleging that PRETORIUS or its rider placed third by the judge interfered with the chances of SEVENTH HEAVEN placed fourth. The interference was alleged in the final straight and the margin between third and fourth was a long neck. Mr. Coles reserved the right to charge.

The connections of PRETORIUS were represented by its Trainer, Jakki Good and those of SEVENTH HEAVEN by its Trainer, Lance Noble. Also present were the respective riders, Craig Grylls (SEVENTH HEAVEN) and Lisa Cropp (PRETORIUS).

Craig Grylls confirmed that he had suffered interference from PRETORIUS in the straight as his mount was racing in a one off position outside Miss Cropp. He had a clear gap ahead as she angled out in front of him and he had to change ground and stop riding for two or three strides and he believed it had cost him a length. He believed she was no more than a length ahead of him when she crossed in front of him.

Stipendiary Steward J Oatham demonstrated the incident on video. He pointed out Miss Cropp angling out in front of Mr Grylls and taking his line with approximately 350 metres to run. He confirmed it was a bare length and Mr Grylls could be seen taking hold as his line was taken with a clear loss of momentum as a result.

Miss Cropp demonstrated the incident on the video. She said that Mr Grylls arm action appeared to continue without any interruption and invited the Committee to conclude from that she must have been sufficiently clear at the time. That would also indicate, she suggested, there had been no loss of momentum by Mr Grylls.

Mrs Good agreed with the interpretation by Miss Cropp and suggested if there had been no loss of momentum it was doubtful Mr Grylls' chances had been affected as alleged.

Mr Noble insisted the video did confirm that Mr Grylls had to put his hands down during the incident and had lost momentum for at least a stride.

Mr Coles disagreed with the interpretation put on the video by Miss Cropp and said the side on video clearly showed there was no gap available for Miss Cropp at the time. SEVENTH HEAVEN had been finishing strongly and was entitled to its line of running. Mr Grylls had stopped and taken hold before recovering to finish a long neck and must have lost more than that from the check it had suffered.

After considering the above the Committee is satisfied that interference has occurred as alleged and despite what Miss Cropp said Mr Grylls had clearly had to check his mount losing momentum as a result and his chances at that point. Given the stage of the race and the margin of a long neck at the finish and the way SEVENTH HEAVEN was finishing the Committee is satisfied that it should exercise its discretion to uphold the protest and accordingly PRETORIUS was relegated, placings were changed and will now be as follows:

1^st No.6 PHILAMOUR

2^ND No. 1 GORGEOUS GEORGE

3^RD No. 8 SEVENTH HEAVEN

4^TH No. 2 PRETORIUS

5^th No. 3 LUCKSHAN

6^th No. 5 WILLY SMITH

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 876.1

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raceid: 7fb5002dcb4bf5c2a25a52f4c6499b8f

race_expapproval:

racecancelled: 0

race_noreport: 0

race_emailed1: 0

race_emailed2: 0

race_title: Race 5

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meetid: 17ebc92324f973671f6a32a8b36320f7

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meet_noreport: 0

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meetdate: 09/12/2006

meet_title: Avondale JC - 9 December 2006

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tracklocation: avondale-jc

meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

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name: Avondale JC