Canterbury JC 6 May 2023 – R5 – Tina Comignaghi

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 5, Berkley Stud Champagne Stakes (Listed Race), Class A Jockey, Tina Comignaghi, admitted a breach of the Careless Riding Rule in that, as the Rider of GET FUNKY in the race, she permitted her mount to shift outwards when not fully clear of SEMPER SUPRA (Brett Murray), which was checked and crowded near the 450 metres.

Rule 638 provides:

(1)   A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be:

          (d)  careless. 

EVIDENCE:

Chief Stipendiary Steward, John Oatham, had Steward, Mark Davidson, show video replays of the incident near the 450 metres.

Mr Davidson pointed out the runners involved, GET FUNKY, ridden by the Respondent, and SEMPER SUPRA (Brett Murray). He then showed that, after joining the course proper, the Respondent shifted her mount out for a run behind the leaders, across the heels of PENVOSE LAD (Kavish Chowdhoory), and Mr Murray’s mount, to her outside, was crowded and had to be checked.

The Respondent said that the incident was pretty clear. She had thought that Mr Murray was, himself, about to shift outwards.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Oatham said that the Respondent had two previous breaches for careless riding on her record:

• on 1 October 2022 at Riccarton (low-level, 4 days)
• on 29 October 2022 at Awapuni (low-mid, 4 days).

That was a relatively good record, Mr Oatham said. The Respondent is a South Island-based Rider, who rides occasionally in the North Island. The carelessness was towards the lower end of the scale on this occasion. The only aggravating factor is that it was a Listed Race, Mr Oatham said.

The Respondent requested a deferment of any suspension until after racing at Invercargill on 14 May next.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Adjudicative Committee agreed that the breach was in the low-level range. The RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide (February 2023) suggests a starting point of a 5-days suspension for a low-level breach.

That starting point is uplifted by 1 day for the aggravating factor of the status of the race. The Respondent’s record is a neutral factor, but she is entitled to a discount for the mitigating factor of her admission of the breach. The appropriate discount, the Adjudicative Committee fixes at 1 day.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent, Class A Jockey, Tina Comignaghi, is suspended for 5 national riding days from after the end of racing on 14 May next, up to and including 24 May next.