Reefton JC – 7 January 2009 – Race 10

Following the running of Race 10, a protest was lodged by Mr P Harris, the trainer of Miss Key (J Morris) placed 2nd by the Judge, against the winner of the race, horse number 12, Hey Mr Bee Jay (K Williams), on the grounds of interference in the concluding stages.

Following the running of Race 10, a protest was lodged by Mr P Harris, the trainer of Miss Key (J Morris) placed 2nd by the Judge, against the winner of the race, horse number 12, Hey Mr Bee Jay (K Williams), on the grounds of interference in the concluding stages.

The placings were: 1st - 12, 2nd - 15, 3rd - 3, 4th - 2, 5th - 4, and the margin between 1st and 2nd was a head.

Making his case, Mr Harris referred to the video of the race. He showed that, turning for home, his horse (Miss Key) was perhaps a length behind Hey Mr Bee Jay (Kylie Williams) and he pointed out that she moved out, taking the line of Mss Key, and forcing that horse out wider. He said his horse was entitled to the line, and that Ms Morris stopped riding momentarily, and had to check the horse. When this occurred, she was a length and a bit behind and, by the time she had collected her horse, she was beaten a head at the finish.

Ms Morris said that as she came out, Ms Williams came out in front, and she had to come around her to make her run.

Ms Williams, the rider of Hey Mr Bee Jay, said that coming to the turn, Ms Morris had her horse’s head on her hind quarters, and she had trouble getting her horse off, that it was laying in. She said her own horse had shied at people on the inside and moved out but pricked its ears and then kept its line. She said that, by having shied, her horse had cost itself and she did not think it (the movement) had cost Ms Morris.

Trainer, Mrs Cunningham said that, in her view, it looked like Ms Morris’s horse did not want to come off the back of Hey Mr Bee Jay, and that it was not balanced. She said it hadn’t come around the bend easily and then was clearly not balanced, and she was confident that it would not have beaten her horse.

To this, Mr Harris said his horse was entitled to have the line and he believed the video showed that the line was impeded (by Ms Williams on Hey Mr Bee Jay).

Invited for his opinion, stipendiary steward Mr Ching said that Mr Harris’s horse has been inconvenienced, in that Ms Williams’ horse has moved out approximately one horse width, but (Miss Key) is clearly laying in behind Ms Williams and was doing so before she moved out. It was his view that this horse (Miss Key) hasn’t helped itself over the final stages and, although there was some inconvenience, it was minimal.

When the hearing resumed, the parties were given a brief decision with advice that a full decision with reasons would be available later.

This is a protest by trainer Mr Harris, and the Information alleges that Hey Mr Bee Jay or its rider, placed 1st by the Judge, caused interference to his horse, Miss Key, placed 2nd by the Judge, in the concluding stages.

The committee accepts, as it is evidenced by the video, that after turning for home, there was some outward movement in the straight by Ms Williams on her horse (Hey Mr Bee Jay). Ms Morris (Miss Key) was trailing Ms Williams and attempted to move off the back of Ms Williams, but it appears her horse is not immediately responsive, by laying in.

We are of the opinion that, had she been able, Ms Morris had every opportunity to move off the back of the leading horse earlier and, whilst her line was briefly taken, the inconvenience was minimal.

Thus, we are satisfied her horse had every chance and, whilst accepting there was some movement in front, and notwithstanding the margin of a head at the finish, we are not satisfied the alleged interference - or inconvenience - was sufficient to affect the placings in the race.

The protest is dismissed and result remains:-

1. 12 Hey Mr Bee Jay

2. 15 Miss Key

3. 3 Caparison

4. 2 Don’t Ask

5. 4 Lunchcutter

P H Welch P Rosanowski

Chairman