Archive Decision

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Canterbury R 17 November 2012 – R 4 (instigating a protest)

ID: JCA16080

Applicant:
Mr M Cameron - Licensed Rider/Mr J Bridgman - Licensed Trainer

Respondent(s):
P and K O'Malley/L McGregor

Information Number:
A1366

Hearing Type:
Protest

Rules:
642(1)

Code:
Thoroughbred

Meet Title:
Canterbury Racing - 17 November 2012

Meet Chair:
NMoffatt

Meet Committee Member 1:
RMcKenzie

Race Date:
2012/11/17

Race Number:
R 4

Decision:

Accordingly the protest was upheld and amended placings read:

1st DANCER’S TALE

2ND QUINTETTE

3rd CHOICE SNITZEL

4th SPARKLING MINE

5th CHARLESTOWN

Dividends were directed to be paid accordingly.

Facts:

Following Race 4, The Barneswood Farm Agistment Welcome Stakes, a protest was lodged pursuant to Rule 642(1).

Mr M Cameron alleged that horse number 5 (CHOICE SNITZEL) or its rider placed 2nd by the Judge interfered with the chances of horse number 9 (QUINTETTE) placed 3rd by the Judge. He alleged interference in the final 200m when CHOICE SNITZEL shifted ground onto QUINTETTE.

Judges placings were:

1st DANCER’S TALE

2ND CHOICE SNITZEL

3rd QUINTETTE

4th SPARKLING MINE

5th CHARLESTOWN

The official margin between 2nd and 3rd was half a neck.

Submissions for Decision:

Mr Cameron explained, by way of the head-on video, that with approximately 200m to run he received two to three sharp bumps from CHOICE SNITZEL, the horse on his inside, ridden by Ms McGregor. This pushed QUINTETTE off-stride and whilst there was no further contact CHOICE SNITZEL continued to move out forcing Mr Cameron wider on the track. The interference unbalanced QUINTETTE and she did not hit the line as well as she should have. Mr Cameron was firm in his belief that he would have beaten CHOICE SNITZEL if he had received a clear run. He said with 2 year olds being green they, in particular, needed to be well balanced in the run to the line.

Mr Bridgman said these black-type races were very important for fillies however he would have lodged a protest even if his horse had been a gelding. He used the rear-view video to show how QUINTETTE had been knocked sideways and lost her hind-end action as a result of the interference from CHOICE SNITZEL. He said from that point on QUINTETTE lost all her momentum and had to rebalance and try to make up ground. He also said there was a psychological effect on lightly raced 2 year olds where they lose focus if they get hit during a race. Mr Bridgman said considering the half neck margin he was certain his horse would have beaten CHOICE SNITZEL if it had received a clear run.

Ms McGregor conceded she had made contact with QUINTETTE and she agreed that 2 year olds lose all concentration when they make contact with another runner in a race; however she said her mount was equally affected by the incident. She said Mr Cameron never stopped riding whereas she did put her whip away and try and straighten when CHOICE SNITZEL moved outwards.

Mr O’Malley agreed with Ms McGregor saying that although CHOICE SNITZEL had moved outwards both horses had been affected by the contact.

For the Stewards Mr Neal said prior to the incident QUINTETTE was racing tractably but it was apparent on the head-on view that the bumping had forced her off balance and as a result she lost ground. He said at the time of the interference both runners were level but the buffeting had caused a loss of momentum for QUINTETTE over the final stages of the race.

Reasons for Decision:

In coming to a decision the committee carefully considered all of the evidence presented. There was no doubt that there was bumping between the two runners and there was no doubt that CHOICE SNITZEL was the catalyst of that interference. The head and rear views clearly showed how Ms McGregor’s runner veered out and made significant contact with QUINTETTE. CHOICE SNITZEL continued to move out forcing QUINTETTE wider on the track. In order to uphold a protest we have to be convinced that the affected runner, in this case QUINTETTE, would have beaten the horse that caused the interference, CHOICE SNITZEL. We noted that at the time of the interference QUINTETTE was racing level with CHOICE SNITZEL but as a result of being hampered lost momentum at a vital stage of the race. Taking into account the half neck margin between the two runners at the finish we were satisfied that had QUINTETTE been allowed an unimpeded run and had not been hampered she would have beaten CHOICE SNITZEL.

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: b92a3e962e1edaa90b585cff8386dd86


informantnumber: A1366


horsename: CHOICE SNITZEL


hearing_racingtype:


startdate: no date provided


newcharge:


plea:


penaltyrequired:


decisiondate: 30/10/2012


hearing_title: Canterbury R 17 November 2012 - R 4 (instigating a protest)


charge:


facts:

Following Race 4, The Barneswood Farm Agistment Welcome Stakes, a protest was lodged pursuant to Rule 642(1).

Mr M Cameron alleged that horse number 5 (CHOICE SNITZEL) or its rider placed 2nd by the Judge interfered with the chances of horse number 9 (QUINTETTE) placed 3rd by the Judge. He alleged interference in the final 200m when CHOICE SNITZEL shifted ground onto QUINTETTE.

Judges placings were:

1st DANCER’S TALE

2ND CHOICE SNITZEL

3rd QUINTETTE

4th SPARKLING MINE

5th CHARLESTOWN

The official margin between 2nd and 3rd was half a neck.


appealdecision:


isappeal:


submissionsfordecision:

Mr Cameron explained, by way of the head-on video, that with approximately 200m to run he received two to three sharp bumps from CHOICE SNITZEL, the horse on his inside, ridden by Ms McGregor. This pushed QUINTETTE off-stride and whilst there was no further contact CHOICE SNITZEL continued to move out forcing Mr Cameron wider on the track. The interference unbalanced QUINTETTE and she did not hit the line as well as she should have. Mr Cameron was firm in his belief that he would have beaten CHOICE SNITZEL if he had received a clear run. He said with 2 year olds being green they, in particular, needed to be well balanced in the run to the line.

Mr Bridgman said these black-type races were very important for fillies however he would have lodged a protest even if his horse had been a gelding. He used the rear-view video to show how QUINTETTE had been knocked sideways and lost her hind-end action as a result of the interference from CHOICE SNITZEL. He said from that point on QUINTETTE lost all her momentum and had to rebalance and try to make up ground. He also said there was a psychological effect on lightly raced 2 year olds where they lose focus if they get hit during a race. Mr Bridgman said considering the half neck margin he was certain his horse would have beaten CHOICE SNITZEL if it had received a clear run.

Ms McGregor conceded she had made contact with QUINTETTE and she agreed that 2 year olds lose all concentration when they make contact with another runner in a race; however she said her mount was equally affected by the incident. She said Mr Cameron never stopped riding whereas she did put her whip away and try and straighten when CHOICE SNITZEL moved outwards.

Mr O’Malley agreed with Ms McGregor saying that although CHOICE SNITZEL had moved outwards both horses had been affected by the contact.

For the Stewards Mr Neal said prior to the incident QUINTETTE was racing tractably but it was apparent on the head-on view that the bumping had forced her off balance and as a result she lost ground. He said at the time of the interference both runners were level but the buffeting had caused a loss of momentum for QUINTETTE over the final stages of the race.


reasonsfordecision:

In coming to a decision the committee carefully considered all of the evidence presented. There was no doubt that there was bumping between the two runners and there was no doubt that CHOICE SNITZEL was the catalyst of that interference. The head and rear views clearly showed how Ms McGregor’s runner veered out and made significant contact with QUINTETTE. CHOICE SNITZEL continued to move out forcing QUINTETTE wider on the track. In order to uphold a protest we have to be convinced that the affected runner, in this case QUINTETTE, would have beaten the horse that caused the interference, CHOICE SNITZEL. We noted that at the time of the interference QUINTETTE was racing level with CHOICE SNITZEL but as a result of being hampered lost momentum at a vital stage of the race. Taking into account the half neck margin between the two runners at the finish we were satisfied that had QUINTETTE been allowed an unimpeded run and had not been hampered she would have beaten CHOICE SNITZEL.


Decision:

Accordingly the protest was upheld and amended placings read:

1st DANCER’S TALE

2ND QUINTETTE

3rd CHOICE SNITZEL

4th SPARKLING MINE

5th CHARLESTOWN

Dividends were directed to be paid accordingly.


sumissionsforpenalty:


reasonsforpenalty:


penalty:


hearing_type: Protest


Rules: 642(1)


Informant: Mr M Cameron - Licensed Rider/Mr J Bridgman - Licensed Trainer


JockeysandTrainer:


Otherperson:


PersonPresent: Mr R Neal - Co-Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr N McIntyre - Co-Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr J Oatham - Stipendiary Steward, Mr M Cameron - Rider of QUINTETTE, Mr J Bridgeman - Trainer of QUINTETTE, Ms L McGregor - Rider of CHOICE SNITZEL, Mr K O'Malley - Trainer of CHOICE SNITZEL


Respondent: P and K O'Malley/L McGregor


StipendSteward:


raceid: 4167eb6158440a70c40dd927eed6ce3f


race_expapproval:


racecancelled: 0


race_noreport: 0


race_emailed1: 0


race_emailed2: 0


race_title: R 4


submittochair:


race_expappcomment:


race_km:


race_otherexp:


race_chair:


race_pm1:


race_pm2:


meetid: b7f657e6392faefabc7e597c50347be3


meet_expapproval:


meet_noreport: 0


waitingforpublication: 0


meet_emailed1: 0


meet_emailed2: 0


meetdate: 17/11/2012


meet_title: Canterbury Racing - 17 November 2012


meet_expappcomment:


meet_km:


meet_otherexp:


tracklocation: canterbury-racing


meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing


meet_chair: NMoffatt


meet_pm1: RMcKenzie


meet_pm2: none


name: Canterbury Racing