Auckland TR 25 January 2025 – R4 – Matt Cartwright

Introduction

Following the running of Race 4, the $1,000,000 TAB Karaka Millions (Listed Race), Class A Rider Mr M Cartwright defended a charge of careless riding which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d). The Information was filed by Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr J Oatham.

Particulars of the charge

M Cartwright (HELLO ROMEO) – permitted his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of LA DORADA, which was dictated inwards, crowding VEGA FOR LUCK near the 1000 metres.

The Rule

Rule 638(1)(d) provides:

A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

Evidence

At the commencement of the hearing, Mr Cartwright confirmed that he wished to defend the charge. He endorsed the Information “I do not admit the breach of the rule.”

The Adjudicative Committee advised Mr Cartwright of the procedure for the conduct of a defended hearing.

Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr Oatham advised the Adjudicative Committee that he intended to call three witnesses to prove the charge: namely Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr B Jones, the Rider of VEGA FOR LUCK – Mr V Colgan and the Rider of LA DORADA – Mr C Williams.

Witness Mr Jones

In support of his evidence, Mr Jones used the available race films. Nearing the 1100 metres, he pointed out HELLO ROMEO (M Cartwright) slightly ahead and on the outside of LA DORADA (C Williams) and VEGA FOR LUCK (V Colgan) who was behind and inside of LA DORADA adjacent to the running rail. He said that Mr Cartwright, after jumping from barrier 7, angled his mount inward to the outside of LA DORADA, who jumped from barrier 5.  VEGA FOR LUCK, from barrier 3, was looking to present fully into a gap that was available inside of LA DORADA.

Mr Jones said that nearing the 1000 metres, HELLO ROMEO dictated LA DORADA inwards, which placed VEGA FOR LUCK in restricted room, then after running out of room, and Mr Colgan has had to check his mount.  At the time of the shift, Mr Jones said that HELLO ROMEO was no more than half a head clear of LA DORADA, who in turn, was no more than a bare length clear of VEGA FOR LUCK.  Because LA DORADA was dictated inwards, there was simply no longer any room available for the two runners and as a result, VEGA FOR LUCK had to be checked back.

During his cross examination of Mr Jones, Mr Cartwright suggested that Mr Williams was already on the rails and Mr Colgan had not established himself into the gap that was previously available to him. Mr Jones did not agree with that assertion.

Following questions from the Adjudicative Committee, Mr Jones explained that Riders have an obligation to ensure that when shifting ground, they must be their own length and one other clear of other runners.

Witness Mr V Colgan

Mr Colgan confirmed that he was the Rider of VEGA FOR LUCK and that his mount suffered a check nearing the 1000 metre mark.  He said that he received pressure from the horse on his outside, LA DORADA, who was no more than ¾ length clear of him when shifting inward.  He said that as a result of LA DORADA’S shift, there was insufficient room left for him on the inside of that horse.

Under cross examination, Mr Cartwright suggested to Mr Colgan that he had relieved the pressure on Mr Williams’ mount.   He also suggested that Mr Colgan’s horse had overacted. In response, Mr Colgan said that he got “no relief from any pressure.”

Witness Mr C Williams

Mr Williams confirmed that he was the Rider of LA DORADA.  He said that approaching the 1000 metres, Mr Colgan was racing on his inside, and due to pressure being placed on his mount from the outside horse (HELLO ROMEO), Mr Colgan was placed “in an awkward position”. As a result, Mr Williams said that he called out to Mr Cartwright to let him know he had another runner on his inside (Mr Colgan’s mount).  He said that Mr Cartwright immediately came off and relieved the pressure.  He said that having reviewed the replay films, he noted that Mr Colgan’s mount was placed in restricted room.   He said that at the time, Mr Cartwright’s mount was a head in front of his mount and Mr Cartwright was in a position to dictate his mount inwards.

Under cross examination, Mr Williams agreed that Mr Cartwright immediately relieved the pressure, but further confirmed that Mr Colgan’s mount was placed into restricted room.

Respondent Mr Cartwright

Mr Cartwright stated that his mount began well and initially he was looking to go forward into a handy position.  He said that he accepted he tightened Mr Colgan’s mount, but immediately relieved the pressure, but unfortunately Mr Colgan’s mount was in a tight and restricted position and his horse has overreacted.

In response to questions from the Adjudicative Committee, Mr Cartwright accepted that he was responsible for tightening Mr Colgan’s mount and also that he was only a neck clear of Mr Williams’ mount when shifting inward.

Summing up

In summing up, Mr Oatham said that the films show that Mr Colgan was riding forward to maintain his position inside of Mr Williams’ mount.  He said that Mr Colgan’s mount was half a length inside of LA DORADA.  At that point, as a result of outside pressure from Mr Cartwright’s mount, LA DORADA is dictated inwards, and Mr Colgan has continued to be tightened, as there was not sufficient room available for him to hold his ground.  Mr Oatham submitted that Stewards accept that Mr Cartwright did relieve the pressure, but by that time, VEGA FOR LUCK had been checked.

In summing up his case, Mr Cartwright reinforced the fact that he relieved the pressure on Mr Williams and that Mr Colgan’s mount has overreacted.

Decision and Reasons

After reviewing the race films and evaluating the evidence, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved to the requisite standard, namely on the balance of probabilities.  This simply means it was more probable than not, that Mr Cartwright was in breach of the Careless Riding Rule.

A Rider is deemed to be careless when he or she fails to take reasonable steps to avoid causing interference or causes interference by misjudgement or mistake.  The test being whether the Rider exercised the degree of care and/or attention that a Rider would exercise if placed in the same circumstances.  On this occasion, the Adjudicative Committee is of the opinion that Mr Cartwright did not exercise the necessary care required of him under the circumstances when shifting in.

The films clearly establish that Mr Cartwright commenced to shift in to take up a handy position.  He ended up on the outside of EL DORADA and when barely a head clear, dictated that horse inwards.  At that point, VEGA FOR LUCK had established itself inside of EL DORADA.  VEGA FOR LUCK was tightened and checked.

Guidance can be taken from Rule 642(2)(b) which relates to ‘interference’ for the purpose of Rules 637 and 642:

(b) interference is defined as:

(i) a horse crossing another horse without being at least its own length and one other clear length in front of such other horse at the time of crossing; (ii) …(iii) ….

The above definition of interference relates to Rules 637 and 642, but it is a well-established Rule of practice that when Rider’s cross, they must be their own length and one other clear as is indicated in clause (i) of the definition.

The interference suffered by VEGA FOR LUCK can be directly attributed to the actions of Mr Cartwright, who simply made an error of judgement. It is accepted that he did relieve the pressure, but it was too late, as by that time, VEGA FOR LUCK had already been placed in restricted room and had to be checked.

The charge is therefore proven.

Penalty Submissions and Reasons for Penalty

Mr Oatham advised that prior to commencing riding in New Zealand in August 2024, Mr Cartwright had incurred two previous breaches of the Rule in Australia, namely on 20/04/24, 6 days suspension for a low level breach and 25/4/24, a 6 day suspension for a low level breach.

This is now Mr Cartwright’s fourth breach for careless riding from 281 race rides since he commenced riding in New Zealand. His most recent breach occurred at Te Rapa on 16 January 2024, a low to mid-level breach, resulting in a 5-day suspension.   On this occasion, Stewards assess his record as being neutral.

Mr Oatham advised that Stewards assessed Mr Cartwright’s level of carelessness to be in the low range, which has a 5-day suspension as its starting point. He added that the breach occurred in a Listed Race and suggested a penalty uplift from the starting point. Mr Cartwright’s mount was unplaced.

Mr Cartwright advised of riding engagements through until after racing on 25 January 2025 and sought the suspension incurred on 16 January 2025 was deferred until after racing on 25 January 2025 and will conclude after racing on 2 February 2025.

In response, Mr Cartwright asked that consideration be given to the fact that he did relieve the pressure.  It was a $1 million race and racing was tight, and VEGA FOR LUCK overreacted.

Penalty and Reasons

The Adjudicative Committee has assessed the level of carelessness to be in the low range, which has a starting point of 5 days suspension. The breach occurred in a Listed Race, with stake money of $1 million.  Therefore, in accordance with Rule 920(2), a two day uplift is applied.

Mr Cartwright’s riding history is treated as a neutral factor, but it should be noted that Mr Cartwright has incurred 4 suspensions for careless riding from 280 mounts since arriving in New Zealand.  Further breaches of the Rule within the reset period, are likely to result in an uplift.

Although Mr Cartwright cannot be penalised for defending the charge, he cannot be given credit for an admission of the breach that may otherwise have been afforded to him had he done so.

After considering all the factors, the Adjudicative Committee determined a 7-day suspension to be an appropriate penalty.

Conclusion

Mr Cartwright’s License to ride in races is suspended for a period of 7 days. This will commence on 3 February 2025 and conclude on 14 February 2025.