hearingid: e6ee315203dda0e108cf055f670d33ca

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hearing_racingtype: harness-racing

startdate: 03/02/2008

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hearing_title: Kapiti Coast HRC - 3 February 2008 -

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Decision:

Following the running of the The Ultimate Venue Mobile Pace Mr N. Escott, Chief Stipendiary Steward, lodged a protest under rule 869 against the winner, CRUSHERDUST (P. Ferguson) on the grounds of interference to ITALIAN LASS (A. Sharpe) which was placed 6th.

Decision

Following the running of the The Ultimate Venue Mobile Pace Mr N. Escott, Chief Stipendiary Steward, lodged a protest under rule 869 against the winner, CRUSHERDUST (P. Ferguson) on the grounds of interference to ITALIAN LASS (A. Sharpe) which was placed 6th.

At the inquiry Mr M. O’Brien, trainer and Mr Ferguson represented the interests of CRUSHERDUST and Mr A. Neal, trainer, and Mr Sharpe appeared for ITALIAN LASS.

Mr T Taumanu, Stipendiary Steward, used the head and side on films of the final 70-80 metres to demonstrate the interference of concern to the stewards.  They show that Mr Sharpe switched ITALIAN LASS to a rail’s run inside CRUSHERDUST at which point Mr Ferguson angled his horse in.  The effect of that action was to close the gap and stop ITALIAN LASS in her tracks causing her to break up and lose all chance.

Mr Taumanu was firm in his view that there was a gap on the inside for ITALIAN LASS to which Mr Sharpe was entitled to claim as his rightful line of running.He was also in no doubt Mr Ferguson had turned his horse in on ITALIAN LASS.

Messrs Sharpe and Neal concurred with Mr Taumanu’s assessment of the incident and both emphasised there was sufficient racing room on the rail for ITALIAN LASS.

Mr Ferguson challenged Mr Sharpe as to whether there was contact between their sulky wheels and asserted there was not.  He stated that CRUSHERDUST had moved out and that he was straightening the horse when ITALIAN LASS opted for a gap that was never there in his view.

Mr O’Brien essentially supported this view and did not believe Mr Ferguson had directed his horse in the manner claimed by Mr Taumanu.

It is clear from the films that about 70 metres from the post Mr Ferguson has turned his horse in across the rightful running line of ITALIAN LASS and caused that horse to break and lose all chance.  ITALIAN LASS was finishing quicker than most at the point of the interference.  It is also clear that there was sufficient racing room inside CRUSHERDUST.  Mr Ferguson’s analysis of events is unconvincing and without merit.

As to the issue of relegation there is no doubt ITALIAN LASS’s chances were affected by the interference and indeed they were extinguished.

There is equally little doubt that ITALIAN LASS would have run in the first four with an uninterrupted run such was her acceleration into the gap.  For those reasons pursuant to rule 869(8)(b) CRUSHERDUST is relegated  to 6th and the amended placings are  horse numbers:  4,8,2,9,7,3.

The dividend and stakes are directed to be paid accordingly.

Neville Harris

Chairman

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 869.8.b

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