Foxton RC – 2 June 2008 – Race 6

hearingid: 6a114c5b0512d8b06da5a501bc24be96

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hearing_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

startdate: 02/06/2008

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decisiondate: no date provided

hearing_title: Foxton RC - 2 June 2008 - Race 6

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Decision:

Following the running of Race 6, the Listed Castletown Stakes Mr N. Goodwin lodged an information instigating a protest pursuant to the Rules of Racing alleging that I Robot or its rider placed first by the judge interfered with the chances of Altered Image placed second by the judge. The interference occurred in the home straight.

The Judge’s placings were;

1^st           I Robot

2^nd          Altered Image

3^rd           Reuben Thorn

4^th        Caratacus

5^th        Kerilla

The margin between first and second was half a head.

The information was filed with the registrar within the time prescribed.

Appearing for Altered Image were Mr. Michael Coleman (rider), Mr. Paul Moroney (trainer, owner) and Mr. G.Brown (owner).

I Robot was represented by rider Ms.L.Cropp and Mr. Paul Moroney (owner and trainer).

Also present was Mr.Tim Barton (Dominion Post).

Mr. Goodwin began by showing the head-on view of the home straight where Altered Image and I Robot came together and brushed at the top of the straight. However it was the second incident which concerned the stipendiary stewards when an inward movement by I Robot caused a severe bump to Altered Image who was racing on its inside.

The side-on film showed minor contact between the two horses at the top of the straight and then more severe interference approximately 100 meters from the finish.

Mr. Coleman said that the film clearly showed contact between the two horses on a couple of occasions however it was the bump inside the last 100 meters that was significant and the heavy conditions made it very difficult for his horse to recover from that. He was quite convinced that he would have won the race noting the small margin between the two at the finish.

Mr.Moroney told the committee that there was some brushing when Altered Image moved outwards a couple of horse widths at the top of the straight and again at the 200 meter mark but neither of those incidents was major. He said the major interference occurred at the 100 meter mark when the films clearly showed I Robot shift inwards and bump Altered Image pushing him off line.

Mr. Brown, the part-owner of Altered Image said it was his opinion that I Robot had moved inwards quite aggressively and the resultant bump had probably cost him the race.

Ms.Cropp the rider of I Robot said that on rounding the home bend Michael Coleman had angled out and forced her over extra ground approximately seven to eight horse widths towards the outside fence and that she should have been protesting against him. It was her opinion that the final bump was too close to the finish line to have affected the chances of Altered Image.

Mr. Moroney, speaking as part-owner and trainer of I Robot gave evidence that Mr.Coleman had moved out a couple of horse widths and brushed I Robot at about the 350. From that point they raced in a reasonably straight line until the main interference occurred at the 100 meters.

In summing up Mr. Goodwin said that while there was some contact between the horses early in the home straight he did not agree with Ms Cropp that she had been carried out eight horse widths by Mr. Coleman. He maintained that the only significant interference occurred when Ms Cropp’s mount ducked in sharply at the 100 meters and that this affected the chances of Altered Image winning the race.

Mr. Moroney said that despite there being movement from both horses down the home straight the major incident occurred, unfortunately, only as a result of I Robot moving inwards.

Decision

Rule 876 (1) requires us to ask first whether interference occurred and then, if so, whether that interference has cost the horse interfered with a chance of finishing in a better position.

We are satisfied having viewed the films and listening to the evidence that interference has occurred.

The two horses concerned, on rounding the home bend, came wide with Mr. Coleman allowing his mount to move outwards and brush I Robot on a couple of occasions. From that point onwards the two horses went clear and at the 100 meter mark I Robot ducked inwards bumping Altered Image and pushing him off his rightful line of running.

In deciding whether the interference has affected the chances of Altered Image the committee had regard to Mr. Coleman’s assertion that he would have won the race if he had not been bumped.

Mr. Goodwin said that in his opinion the horse’s chances were affected.

Mr. Moroney was in a very difficult position being required to represent both horses however he did so competently and without bias. In summing up he conceded that Altered Image had suffered a significant bump.

The decision to relegate is not automatic and the committee has discretion to do so. We took into account:

- The critical stage of the race that the interference occurred.

- The nature of the interference.

 - The heavy track conditions making it more difficult to recover lost ground.

- The narrow margin between the two horses of half a head.

 Accordingly we exercise our discretion in favour of changing the placings. They now read:

1^st:       Altered Image

2^nd:       I Robot

3^rd:       Reuben Thorn

4^th:       Caratacus

5^th:       Kerilla

N.Moffatt

N.Harris

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 876.1

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StipendSteward:

raceid: 05aa8517d80e9d32ceb2bca12999144f

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race_noreport: 0

race_emailed1: 0

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race_title: Race 6

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meetdate: 02/06/2008

meet_title: Foxton RC - 2 June 2008

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meet_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

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name: Foxton RC