Riccarton Park – Canterbury JC 9 August 2025 – R10 – Brandon May

Following the running of Race 10, Happy Hire Rating 65, Class A Jockey, Brandon May, admitted a breach of Rule 638(1)(d) in that, as the Rider of SHAKING STEVENS in the race, he rode carelessly in that “he angled his mount outwards, crowding and checking IRISH MISS (Tina Comignaghi) near the 400 metres”.

Rule 638 provides as follows:

(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 Stipendiary Steward Mark Davidson, show the incident on the four available video replays. Mr Davidson showed that the field was heading to the outside of the track turning for home. He pointed out SHAKING STEVENS, ridden by Mr May, away from the running rail and sharing the lead. Mr Davidson then showed that Mr May continue to shift wider. In doing so, Mr May took the rightful running line of IRISH MISS, which was crowded and had to be checked, he said. THE IMMIGRANT (Kavish Chowdhoory), which was racing to the outside of IRISH MISS, also received some interference in the incident.

Mr May said that he was definitely looking for the outside of the track. He had seen Mr Chowdhoory to his outside, he said, but he had not seen Ms Comignaghi. When Ms Comignaghi shouted to him, he attempted to pull his runner out of it but, he admitted, too late. He submitted that there may have been some movement from THE IMMIGRANT.

Mr Oatham commented that, as the runners straightened, there may have been some slight movement from Mr Chowdhoory’s mount, but Ms Comignaghi was already in trouble. If there was any contribution from THE IMMIGRANT, it was only slight, he said.

DECISION:

The breach having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Oatham said that Mr May has two previous breaches of the Careless Riding Rule on his record. These are on:

1 January 2025 at Riverton – suspended for 6 days (low-range breach);

3 April 2025 at Ashburton – suspended for 6 days (low-to-mid range).

Both charges were defended, Mr Oatham said.

The Respondent has had 237 rides in the past 12 months. His record could be treated as a neutral factor, he said. The level of carelessness was “somewhere in the mid-range”, Mr Oatham submitted.

Mr May, after a consideration of upcoming race dates, indicated that he wished any term of suspension to commence immediately.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The breach is assessed by the Adjudicative Committee as being mid-range and, in this respect, agrees with Mr Oatham. The RIB Thoroughbred Penalty Guide (March 2024) suggests a starting point for penalty for such a breach of 7 national riding days.

The Respondent’s riding record may be regarded as a neutral factor at worst. He has two breaches in the past 12 months period. In that period, the Respondent has had 237 rides. Mr May is given a 1-day discount, from the Penalty Guide starting point of a 7-days suspension, for his admission of the breach.

The term of suspension, therefore, is 6 days.

CONCLUSION:

Class A Jockey, Brandon May’s Licence to ride in races is suspended from 10 August 2025 to 17 August 2025, both dates inclusive – 6 national riding days.