Riccarton Park – Canterbury JC 25 January 2025 – R6 – Samantha Wynne
ID: RIB51006
Animal Name:
Quintabelle
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
25/01/2025
Race Club:
Canterbury Jockey Club
Race Location:
Riccarton Park - 165 Racecourse Road, Christchurch,
Race Number:
R6
Hearing Date:
25/01/2025
Hearing Location:
Riccarton Park, Christchurch
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Class A Jockey, Samantha Wynne, fined $200
BACKGROUND:
Following the running of Race 6, ODT Southern Mile Qualifier Rating 75, Class A Jockey, Samantha Wynne, admitted a charge that, as the Rider of QUINTABELLE in the race, she “struck her mount in two consecutive strides prior to the winning post”.
Rule 638 provides as follows:
(g) Subject to the other requirements of this Rule 638(3) in a Flat Race or Trial . . .a Rider must not:
(ii) strike a horse with a whip in consecutive strides at any stage of the race.
EVIDENCE:
Stipendiary Steward, Mark Davidson, showed video replays of the final stages of the race. He pointed out QUINTABELLE, ridden by Ms Wynne, nearest the rail in a tight finish. He showed that, just short of the winning post, Ms Wynne struck her mount twice with the whip in quick succession. There was little force involved, he said.
Ms Wynne described her whip use as a “love tap” and very necessary and desperate, she said. She had barely even hit the horse, she said.
DECISION:
The charge having been admitted, it is deemed proved.
PENALTY SUBMISSIONS:
Mr Davidson said that Ms Wynne has had one previous warning for a similar breach in August 2024. He referred to the Penalty Guide starting point for a second breach (which this is deemed to be) of a $150 fine. He submitted that a small uplift was appropriate for Ms Wynne’s mount having won the race. He said he was not suggesting that the strikes, so close to the winning post, had made any difference to the result of the race. QUINTABELLE won the race by a nose it was noted.
Ms Wynne said that she has been trying very hard to comply with the Whip Rules and had let herself down today.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
Ms Wynne’s mount has won the race by a nose. She used her whip, albeit not forcefully, in two consecutive strides, almost at the winning post, so close that it was unlikely it made any difference to the result of the race, which she won by a nose.
The RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide suggests a starting point for a second breach, involving two consecutive strikes, of a $150 fine. An uplift of $50 is made to that starting point in recognition of the fact that Ms Wynne won the race, notwithstanding the Adjudicative Committee being satisfied that no advantage was gained.
CONCLUSION:
Class A Jockey, Samantha Wynne, is fined the sum of $200.
Decision Date: 25/01/2025
Publish Date: 28/01/2025