Wellington RC – 14 March 2009 – Race 8

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hearing_racingtype: thoroughbred-racing

startdate: 14/03/2009

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decisiondate: no date provided

hearing_title: Wellington RC - 14 March 2009 - Race 8

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Decision:

Following the running of Race 8, the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance New Zealand Oaks, Ms T Collett was charged with a breach of Rule 871 (1) (d).   The information alleged that Ms Collett permitted her mount MILL DUCKIE to shift inward passing the 200 metres dictating the line of CASSINI (K.Myers) who in turn was forced inward resulting in the following runners being checked, EKSTREME (P Holmes) DUTCH STRIKER (B Lammas) and GLAMOROUS GIRL (A Calder).

Ms Collett did not admit the breach.  She was represented by Mr R Collett.

Mr Sanders identified all the horses involved using the head-on video.  He showed Ms Myers on Cassini racing four deep off the fence with three other runners to her inside. The film paused at this stage showed that, while room was tight, all four of these runners had clear and unimpeded lines of running.  There was no interference at this point. Ms Collett, racing wider on the track, then let MILL DUCKIE move inwards dictating the rightful line of running of Ms Myers (CASSINI).  This in turn caused interference to the runners on the inside of Ms Myers.

Mr Sanders showed the rear-on view outlining Ms Collett move from a five-wide position from the rail to a four-wide position eventually ending up  one and a half widths off the rail.

Ms Myers was called by Mr Sanders to give evidence.  She said that MILL DUCKIE dictated her line of running forcing her inwards onto horses on her inside.  While no physical contact had occurred she was left with no other option.  If she had carried on her straight line she would have been checked by MILL DUCKIE.

In response to a question from Mr Collett Ms Myers said that she did not stop riding her mount out despite her line of running being dictated from her outside.
Mr Sanders told the committee that while Ms Myers was required to exercise due care to runners on her inside the onus, in this situation, was on Ms Collett to straighten her mount as she was responsible for the initial inward movement.
 
Mr Collett told the committee that Ekstreme was never presented with a clear run at any stage and that Mr Holmes was attempting to take a gap that wasn’t there.  He said that only one or possibly two horses should have been on the inside of Ms Myers.   While admitting that MILL DUCKIE moved inwards towards Cassini he said that Ms Myers did not ever stop riding.  He blamed the other riders for the interference saying that they shouldn’t have been where they were.   He also said that MILL DUCKIE was hit from behind by the eventual winner coming through.  Ms Tasha Collett confirmed that things got tight by saying that she ended up hitting Jungle Rocket over the head with the whip as it moved up closely on her outside.

Mr Sanders in summing up said that Ms Collett moved inwards over a period of time. He maintained that the initial movement of MILL DUCKIE was prior to Jungle Rocket coming up beside her.

Decision

The committee had careful regard to all of the submissions put before it.  The films clearly showed MILL DUCKIE moving inwards towards Cassini with interference then occurring to horses closer to the inside rail.  Viewing all the films in slow motion and pause mode it was the opinion of the committee that there was a gap for Ekstreme but this gap closed when pressure came from the outside.

In deciding whether or not the pressure began with Ms Collett the rear view was very helpful.  This film showed that when MILL DUCKIE first began to move inwards there were no contributing movements from other horses.  We accepted that JUNGLE ROCKET did move in after this but by that time the damage to the other horses had already occurred.
 
Ms Myers was quite clear in her evidence saying that MILL DUCKIE moved in and took her rightful line of running. She estimated that Ms Collett was only about three quarters of a length clear when she allowed MILL DUCKIE to drift inwards.
Taking into account all of the above the charge of careless riding was found proved.

Penalty

Mr Sanders advised the committee of Ms Tasha Collett’s riding record which is as follows :

25/01/09    Auckland     4 days
01/11/08    Waipa.         5 days
11/10/08    Matamata     5 days
12/07/ 08   Whangarei    4 days
17/05/08    Waikato       5 days

Mr Sanders said that while Ms Collett does ride regularly at many meetings the number of suspensions incurred in the last twelve months was not a good record.

He asked the committee to consider that this was a $400,000.00 Group One race and that several fillies had been interfered with in particular EKSTREME who in the Stewards opinion may have been denied black type.
The Stewards rated this interference on the higher side of medium and Mr Sanders outlined recent penalties in Group races which ranged from 3 weeks to 5 weeks with monetary penalties added.  His submission on this occasion was for a similar penalty.

Ms Collett told the committee that she had no firm engagements for the next seven days and could start any suspension immediately.  Mr Collett said that she rides right throughout New Zealand.

In coming to a decision on penalty the committee have taken into account all of the submissions including;

- The degree of carelessness. Mr Sanders submitted that it was on the high side of medium.  We agree with this assessment due to the amount of ground that Ms Collett shifted inwards and the number of horses affected.

- Ms Collett’s very average riding record.

- The status and stake of the race (Rule 1122)

- Recent penalties incurred in Group races.

- Ms Collett’s riding schedule, being both a North and South Island rider.

Ms Collett is suspended from riding from the conclusion of racing today 14th March 2009 until the conclusion of racing on Wednesday April 8th 2009 (three and a half weeks).   In addition a monetary penalty of $2000.00 is imposed.

N  Moffatt
T Castles

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hearing_type: Old Hearing

Rules: 871.1.d

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meetdate: 14/03/2009

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