Rangiora HRC – 3 July 2005 –

Following the running of Race 2, Cavalier Trotting Products Handicap Trot, an information instigating a protest was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Mr N G McIntyre, against LOTSA SPEED (M A Butt), placed 3^rd by the judge, on the grounds of interference to SUNSHINE SONG (R G Anderson) the interference allegedly occurring with approximately 500 metres to run when SUNSHINE SONG broke while inside LOTSA SPEED.

Mr Butt represented the connections of LOTSA SPEED.

Mr Anderson stated that, with approximately 500 metres to run, he was racing 3-back on the outer having followed out HANGER PRIDE (I R Cameron) when Mr Butt improved from the back and tried to push him back in and came into contact as a result of which SUNSHINE SONG broke. He said that when he came out the horse inside him came out and occupied the position Mr Anderson had been in and he therefore had nowhere to go. He believed that Mr Butt should have relieved the pressure. All of the pressure had come from the outside, he said.

Mr B D Williams, Assistant Stipendiary Steward, showed the incident on video replays. He showed Mr Cameron come out on HANGER PRIDE and Mr Butt improving 3-wide. Mr Anderson followed Mr Cameron out but, as Mr Butt maintained his line, it left no room for Mr Anderson to go back down. As the 3-wide line improved, Mr Aderson's horse ran out of room and broke, losing all chance in the race. Mr Butt assumed a position on the back of HANGER PRIDE and went on to finish 3^rd. Mr Anderson's movement was slow and gradual and legitimate.

Mr Anderson confirmed, when asked by the Committee, that he was fully on the back of HANGER PRIDE when he followed that horse out.

Mr Butt said that he was up alongside Mr Anderson when Mr Cameron came out and he, Mr Butt, went in behind Mr Cameron. He said that there was no interference until the horse on the markers (DONTGOBREAKINMYHEART driven by R P Nyhan) moved out and there was a "gradual squeezing up". He submitted that he and Mr Anderson had gone for the same position but he, Mr Butt, did not move from Mr Cameron's back. Mr Butt stated that he was never 4-wide.

The Committee was satisfied that there had been interference to SUNSHINE SONG and that the interference was the result of the actions of Mr Butt and his horse, LOTSA SPEED, in attempting to move Mr Anderson down with approximately 500 metres to run. The Committee found that Mr Anderson had pulled out with safety and legitimately and was following HANGER PRIDE in the 3-wide line and, at all relevant times, Mr Butt did not have any advantage over Mr Anderson when he attempted to move him in ? in fact, SUNSHINE SONG was ahead of LOTSA SPEED at all times until it was squeezed and broke. In addition, Mr Butt was not able to move inwards with safety as there was no room for Mr Anderson on his inside for him to be moved in. The Committee referred to the Easing Down Regulation in looking at the interference.

Further, the Committee was satisfied that the interference to SUNSHINE SONG had interfered with the progress or chance of that runner which had galloped and lost all chance at a critical stage of the race when it had been racing in a handy position.

The Committee has a discretion whether to relegate LOTSA SPEED in the circumstances. The interference was serious and was a result of a clear breach of the Rules in the Committee's opinion. The chances of SUNSHINE SONG were extinguished and, in addition, LOTSA SPEED gained an advantage at that point. The Committee exercises its discretion to uphold the protest and relegate LOTSA SPEED from 3^rd placing to 11^th placing. As a result of the relegation, the amended result for the race is as follows:

1^st 18 On Hold

2^nd 19 Hanger Pride

3^rd 15 Insist

4^th 11 Rarangi Gold

5^th 13 Countess Jill

It is ordered that dividends and stakes be paid accordingly.