Archive Decision

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Auckland RC 29 January 2017 – R 6 – Chair, Mr A Dooley

ID: JCA18061

Applicant:
Mr J Oatham - Chief Stipendiary Steward

Respondent(s):
Ms S Spratt - Licensed Jockey

Other Person:
Mr A Coles - Stipendiary Steward

Information Number:
A8670

Hearing Type:
Hearing

New Charge:
Careless Riding

Rules:
638(1)(d)

Plea:
admitted

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Auckland RC - 29 January 2017

Meet Chair:
ADooley

Meet Committee Member 1:
NMcCutcheon

Race Date:
2017/01/29

Race Number:
R6

Decision:

As Ms Spratt admitted the breach the Committee find the charge proved.

Penalty:

Accordingly, Ms Spratt had her license to ride in races suspended for a period to commence after racing on 4 February and conclude after racing on 11 February 2017 (4 days).

That period of suspension encompasses meetings at

6 February – Tauherenikau – Tier 2 Feature

8 February – Ellerslie

9 February – Te Aroha

11 February – Te Rapa – Premier 1

Facts:

Following the running of race 6, Hallmark Stud 1400, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (1)(d). The Informant, Mr Oatham, alleged that shortly after the start Ms Spratt allowed her mount O’GUY to shift in when not clear of ELUSIVE EMPIRE which was checked.

Ms Spratt acknowledged that she understood the Rule and confirmed her admission of the breach.

Rule 638(1) (d) provides: A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Judicial Committee considers to be careless.

Mr Coles identified that shortly after the start Ms Spratt allowed her mount O’GUY to shift in when only a bare length clear. He said this resulted in Mr Grylls having to take a hold of his mount ELUSIVE EMPIRE and added the incident cost that runner 1 length.

Ms Spratt acknowledged that she “shaved” Mr Grylls’ mount when shifting in.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Oatham produced Ms Spratt’s record which showed 3 previous breaches under this Rule in the last 12 months. He said Ms Spratt was due to start a 2 day excessive whip suspension after racing today. He submitted a suspension at the low end for this breach.

Ms Spratt advised that she was intending to ride SOMETHINGVAIN in the Wairarapa Thorougbred Breeder’s Stakes on 6 February. Ms Spratt added that she also rode the horse in that race last year.

The Stewards provided Ms Spratt’s recent riding history which showed that Ms Spratt only rode in the Central Districts on Feature and Premier days.

Mr Oatham said he had no objection to the Committee including 6 February in Ms Spratt’s suspension.

Reasons for Penalty:

The Committee carefully considered all the evidence and submissions presented. The Penalty Guide for Judicial Committees recommends that the starting point in the North Island for careless riding is a 5 day suspension. This is adjusted based on the mitigating and aggravating factors.

The mitigating factors were Ms Spratt’s admission of the breach and the level of carelessness was low end. This warrants a 1 day reduction in penalty.

We consider Ms Spratt’s record to be average and believed there were no aggravating facts.

The Committee had regard for the fact that Ms Spratt's suspension would include a Premier race day at Te Rapa.

We accept that Ms Spratt was intending to ride on 6 February and we were able to verify that she rode at that meeting last year.

After taking into account all the above factors the Committee considers an appropriate suspension was 4 days.

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: e87373f6ceeee0175bff17d7662aabdb


informantnumber: A8670


horsename:


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge: Careless Riding


plea: admitted


penaltyrequired: 1


decisiondate: 31/01/2017


hearing_title: Auckland RC 29 January 2017 - R 6 - Chair, Mr A Dooley


charge:


facts:

Following the running of race 6, Hallmark Stud 1400, an Information was filed pursuant to Rule 638 (1)(d). The Informant, Mr Oatham, alleged that shortly after the start Ms Spratt allowed her mount O’GUY to shift in when not clear of ELUSIVE EMPIRE which was checked.

Ms Spratt acknowledged that she understood the Rule and confirmed her admission of the breach.

Rule 638(1) (d) provides: A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Judicial Committee considers to be careless.

Mr Coles identified that shortly after the start Ms Spratt allowed her mount O’GUY to shift in when only a bare length clear. He said this resulted in Mr Grylls having to take a hold of his mount ELUSIVE EMPIRE and added the incident cost that runner 1 length.

Ms Spratt acknowledged that she “shaved” Mr Grylls’ mount when shifting in.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:


reasonsfordecision:


Decision:

As Ms Spratt admitted the breach the Committee find the charge proved.


sumissionsforpenalty:

Mr Oatham produced Ms Spratt’s record which showed 3 previous breaches under this Rule in the last 12 months. He said Ms Spratt was due to start a 2 day excessive whip suspension after racing today. He submitted a suspension at the low end for this breach.

Ms Spratt advised that she was intending to ride SOMETHINGVAIN in the Wairarapa Thorougbred Breeder’s Stakes on 6 February. Ms Spratt added that she also rode the horse in that race last year.

The Stewards provided Ms Spratt’s recent riding history which showed that Ms Spratt only rode in the Central Districts on Feature and Premier days.

Mr Oatham said he had no objection to the Committee including 6 February in Ms Spratt’s suspension.


reasonsforpenalty:

The Committee carefully considered all the evidence and submissions presented. The Penalty Guide for Judicial Committees recommends that the starting point in the North Island for careless riding is a 5 day suspension. This is adjusted based on the mitigating and aggravating factors.

The mitigating factors were Ms Spratt’s admission of the breach and the level of carelessness was low end. This warrants a 1 day reduction in penalty.

We consider Ms Spratt’s record to be average and believed there were no aggravating facts.

The Committee had regard for the fact that Ms Spratt's suspension would include a Premier race day at Te Rapa.

We accept that Ms Spratt was intending to ride on 6 February and we were able to verify that she rode at that meeting last year.

After taking into account all the above factors the Committee considers an appropriate suspension was 4 days.


penalty:

Accordingly, Ms Spratt had her license to ride in races suspended for a period to commence after racing on 4 February and conclude after racing on 11 February 2017 (4 days).

That period of suspension encompasses meetings at

6 February – Tauherenikau – Tier 2 Feature

8 February – Ellerslie

9 February – Te Aroha

11 February – Te Rapa – Premier 1


hearing_type: Hearing


Rules: 638(1)(d)


Informant: Mr J Oatham - Chief Stipendiary Steward


JockeysandTrainer: Ms S Spratt - Licensed Jockey


Otherperson: Mr A Coles - Stipendiary Steward


PersonPresent:


Respondent:


StipendSteward:


raceid: d26802141dd444c8d82b973b22bc5ac9


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R6


submittochair:


race_expappcomment:


race_km:


race_otherexp:


race_chair:


race_pm1:


race_pm2:


meetid: fad874e5af4680c9bfd120b46680105b


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 29/01/2017


meet_title: Auckland RC - 29 January 2017


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: auckland-rc


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: ADooley


meet_pm1: NMcCutcheon


meet_pm2: none


name: Auckland RC