Canterbury JC – 15 May 2006 – Race 8

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hearing_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

startdate: 15/05/2006

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hearing_title: Canterbury JC - 15 May 2006 - Race 8

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Hearing of information number 6279 filed under Rule 871(1)(e) by Mr SC Ching alleging incompetent riding on the horse "Punky's Pride" in the first 400 metres of the race.

Hearing of information number 6279 filed under Rule 871(1)(e) by Mr SC Ching alleging incompetent riding on the horse "Punky's Pride" in the first 400 metres of the race.

Following Race 8, an information was laid by the Stipendiary Steward, Mr SC Ching, against apprentice jockey Mr John Ong under Rule 871(1)(e) alleging incompetent riding on the horse "Punky's Pride" in the first 400 metres of the race.

Mr Ong was accompanied by his employer, Mr PDJ Harris. Mr Ong did not admit the charge.

Mr Ching advised the hearing that Mr Ong's mount had jumped with the field from the starting barrier but that Mr Ong then immediately took hold of the horse and allowed it to drift, until his mount was several lengths behind the rest of the field.

Mr J McLaughlin, Assistant Stipendiary Steward then demonstrated the incident on the video coverage. The film from the start camera was viewed as well as the side on and head on films. The allegation by the Stipendiary Stewards was that Mr Ong restrained his mount, moved inside the other horses, and quickly lost contact with them. After 200 metres he was some lengths behind the field and after 400 metres he was at least 10 lengths behind the second last horse. Thereafter, Mr Ong urged his mount to some degree and moved towards the middle of the track. He was seen to ride the horse with more vigour in the final stages of the race. "Punky's Pride" finished third to last in a field of eleven but was still a considerable distance from the leading division.

Mr Ching told the hearing that he had spoken to Mr Mark Donald, the trainer of "Punky's Pride" who indicated that his instructions to Mr Ong were to "jump the horse out, take cover before making a run on the straight".

Mr Ching alleged that Mr Ong did not put his horse "in contact" with the field in the first 400 metres of the race and that this was a serious error of judgment amounting to incompetent riding.

Mr Ong, assisted by Mr Harris, told the hearing that his riding instructions were to jump out with the rest of the field and to not make the horse work early. He said that he was then instructed to make a run in the straight.

Mr Ong was asked why he had opted to move across to the inside in the early stages. His response was that he was endeavouring to save ground. Mr Harris, in support, stated that Mr Ong was entitled to use whatever part of the track he wished. This was not disputed by Mr Ching. Mr Harris then, with the assistance of the video coverage, went on to say that Mr Ong had moved in and then out coming across to the field. He said that he could not see any restraining of the horse, although he conceded that more vigour might have been used. He said that Mr Ong had ridden the horse on a previous occasion when it had "run on late" for a third placing.

In summary, Mr Ching reiterated that he could not see how Mr Ong could get cover with the other horses when he had allowed his mount to drift to the point of being at least ten lengths behind the second last horse after only 400 metres of the race.

After carefully considering all of the evidence, it is this committee's finding that the charge had been proved to the appropriate standard of proof. We were satisfied that there was a serious error of misjudgement on Mr Ong's part which amounted to incompetence. Factors which led to this finding were:

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• The degree of restraint which was apparent from the video films in the early stages
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• The fact that the horse lost contact quite early in the race with the other runners in the field
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• The fact that the horse then drifted to at least ten lengths behind the second last horse during the first 400 metres, with no effort being made on Mr Ong's part to keep his mount in contact with the field
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• The fact that the race was only 1200 metres which left the horse in a position of not having any real chance of making up lost ground to finish in a better place, let alone winning or being placed in the race
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Clearly, Mr Ong left too much to chance on a horse which, on the basis of evidence heard, has an ability to finish well as was demonstrated by a recent start when Mr Ong finished in third place after being at the rear of the field.

In summary, therefore, we are satisfied that the charge of incompetent riding has been proved to our satisfaction.

We have given careful consideration to the question of penalty. We agree that the degree of incompetence was not as bad as some cases that we have seen of recent times, but we have to have regard to the fact that a horse which obviously has some ability to produce a fast finish, was really denied the opportunity of finishing in a better place.

Thus, the penalty must reflect that, because of the impact that Mr Ong's riding has had on the horse's connections and the betting public. We agree that a suspension is an appropriate penalty. Mr Ching called for a minimum suspension of four weeks. Mr Ong thought that was too much. We must impose a penalty that is consistent with the penalties that have been imposed of recent times.

We consider, having regard to all of the circumstances of the case, that a period of suspension of six weeks is an appropriate period.

Mr Ong is accordingly suspended for six weeks, until the conclusion of racing on Sunday 25 June.

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 871.1.e

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race_title: Race 8

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meetdate: 15/05/2006

meet_title: Canterbury JC - 15 May 2006

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name: Canterbury JC