Matamata RC 14 May 2023 – R6- Ace Lawson-Carroll

Evidence:

This charge arises from the running of Race 6, the NZB Insurance Pearl Series 1400m. Stipendiary Steward, Mr Dooley filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d) alleging the Rider of MY EXPLOSIVE (A Lawson-Carroll), “permitted his mount to shift out when not sufficiently clear of MIDORIYAMA, which clipped a heel and blundered near the 350 metres”.

Apprentice Rider Mr Lawson-Carroll acknowledged he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach. He was assisted at the hearing by Trainer Mr Andrew Forsman.

Rule 638(1)(d) provides: A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

Using the available race films Stipendiary Steward Mr B Jones demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned; namely MY EXPLOSIVE (A Lawson-Carroll) and MIDORIYAMA (C Lindsay).

Mr Jones told the Adjudicative Committee that rounding the home turn into the straight, MY EXPLOSIVE was hanging out and to its outer was MIDORIYAMA.  He said that Mr Lawson-Carroll allowed his mount to continue to shift out and in doing so, he continued to ride forward without taking corrective action.  As a consequence, MIDORIYAMA clipped a heel and blundered.  He added that whilst shifting out, MY EXPLOSIVE was barely a length clear of MIDORIYAMA, not his own length and one other as required by the Rule.

By way of explanation, Mr Lawson-Carroll said his mount was a difficult ride and rounding the turn into the straight, it shifted out quite quickly before he had any chance to straighten.

Decision:

As Mr Lawson-Carroll admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved.

Submission for Penalty:

Mr Dooley submitted that Mr Lawson-Carroll’s riding record is good, with him having had two previous breaches under the Careless Riding Rule in the last 12 months, namely:

28/04/2023 at Rotorua – 5-day suspension

16/12/2022 at Levin – 5-day suspension

Mr Dooley said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be in the mid-range due to the nature of the check to MIDORIYAMA.

In terms of penalty, he submitted that a suspension commensurate with a mid-range breach be imposed, with a discount being afforded to Mr Lawson-Carroll for his admission of the breach and his good record.

Mr Lawson Carroll advised that he could commence any proposed suspension immediately.  He had nothing further to add in relation to any proposed penalty.

Reasons for Penalty:

After considering the submissions and reviewing the race film, the Adjudicative Committee determined Mr Lawson-Carroll’s carelessness to be mid-range and adopted a 7-day (suspension) as the starting point.

The available films clearly established that Mr Lawson-Carroll allowed his mount to shift out when less than one length clear of MIDORIYAMA who, as a result, has clipped a heel and blundered.  MY EXPLOSIVE led into the home straight and commenced to drift outwards, taking the running line of MIDORIYAMA.  Mr Lawson-Carroll should have made a greater effort to stop riding forward and straighten his mount, albeit it tended to hang out rounding the home turn and he said it was a difficult ride.

From the 7-day starting point, a one-day reduction is applied for Mr Lawson-Carroll’s admission of the breach and his relatively good riding record.

After considering the above factors, the Adjudicative Committee deemed that a 6-day suspension be appropriate under the circumstances.

Conclusion:

Accordingly, his licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 6 days, commencing after racing on 14 May 2023 and concluding after racing on 25 May 2023.