NZ Metro TC 2 August 2024 – R1 (heard 4 August 2024 at Addington) – Blair Orange

EVIDENCE:

Following the running of Race 1, the IRT. YOUR HORSE. OUR PASSION TROT, Stipendiary Steward Mr Paul Williams presented an Information alleging a breach of Rule 869(3)(b) by Driver Blair Orange.

Mr Orange stated he was conversant with the Rule, the Charge and he confirmed he did not admit the breach.

The Information was lodged with the Adjudicative Committee and adjourned sine die and heard this day 4 August 2024.

Mr Williams played the entire video of the race and had Stipendiary Steward Mr Shane Renault identify CLOVELLY HILL, who started from the unruly position, race three wide until approximately 900m to run. Mr Williams said at this juncture, Mr Orange had SCHOEMAKER (J Smith) to his inside and inside of SCHOEMAKER on the markers, was SOLEMN SON (K Cameron). Mr Williams pointed to CLOVELLY HILL make a forward move and in doing so, shift into the racing line of SCHOEMAKER, where contact was made, resulting in SCHOEMAKER breaking stride and losing several lengths.

Mr Williams called Mr Justin Smith, Driver of SCHOEMAKER, as the Steward’s witness and asked him to recall the events leading up to the interference. Mr Smith said it became very tight on the corner and confirmed contact was made on his horse’s offside leg by CLOVELLY HILL.

Mr Orange asked Mr Smith if he noticed the difficulty he was having steering CLOVELLY HILL, which he said he did.

Mr Orange used the videos to demonstrate CLOVELLY HILL boring down the track on the corners. He called Mr Richard May, the Driver of MONARO MEG, who was following Mr Smith in the race, to support his evidence that he was having a hard time keeping his horse out. Mr May said he could see CLOVELLY HILL had a pole and murphy blind on its near side and was fighting it hard around the corners.

Mr Orange said post-race, the Trainer of CLOVELLY HILL Mr John Howe, apologised for the horse’s driving manners. Mr Orange said he had done his best to avoid contacting SCHOEMAKER’S leg, but when a horse locks onto a rein, as he did, “an army couldn’t pull against it and win”.

Mr Williams said, in summing up the Stewards’ case, it is whether Mr Orange has done enough in the circumstances, to give Mr Smith enough room. He said Stewards believe Mr Orange has not and has driven carelessly.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Adjudicative Committee considered all the evidence carefully.

The race videos clearly show the contact and resulting check to Mr Smith’s horse. Mr May has supported Mr Orange’s assertion that CLOVELLY HILL has been boring down the track on every corner of the race. This is also supported by the race videos.

The ultimate question is, has Mr Orange done enough to try and avoid the contact.

The Adjudicative Committee’s observations are that Mr Orange’s horse is locked on the outside rein and the boring pole is flexed hard against its neck at the point of interference to SCHOEMAKER and is fully aware of the difficulty to steer outwards against a pole and murphy blind.

On this occasion, the Adjudicative Committee considers Mr Orange has done his best in the circumstances and is satisfied he has not driven carelessly and accordingly, dismissed the charge.

CONCLUSION:

The Charge was dismissed.