Whangarei RC 16 August 2025 – R2 – Sam McNab

Evidence:

Following the running of Race 2, the Respondent Apprentice Rider Mr Sam McNab, assisted by Class A Rider Mr Michael McNab, admitted a charge of careless riding which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d).

The Information alleged that as the Rider of KATAMUKU, he permitted his mount to shift inwards when sufficiently not clear of I’M DREAMING (J Fawcett), who was checked near the 750 metres, causing crowding to PLAY IT AGAIN SAM (W Kennedy).

The Respondent acknowledged he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach.

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, Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr J Oatham demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned.

Mr Oatham said that KATAMUKU was racing in a three wide position and Mr McNab looked to shift in behind BREGO, who was two-wide in the running. He said that while shifting inwards, KATAMUKU was also laying in, which exacerbated the shift. KATAMUKU was not sufficiently clear of I’M DREAMING, who was checked and crowded PLAY IT AGAIN SAM, who was racing behind that runner.

Mr Sam McNab said that his mount a was a five-year-old having its first race start. He said his mount wanted to lay in and it “dropped the bridle.”

Mr Michael McNab said that as KATAMUKU shifted in, “it got lost, dropped the bridle and raced greenly.”

Decision:

As the Respondent, Mr McNab, admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Dooley advised that Mr McNab is an inexperienced Apprentice Rider, having had 65 raceday rides so far, in his short riding career. He said he had one previous breach of the Rule. This occurred at Waikato TR on 23 July 2025 and resulted in a 5-day suspension.

Mr Dooley said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be in the low to mid-range. He accepted that KATAMUKU raced greenly and was having its first race start.

Mr McNab sought a deferment to any proposed suspension, until after racing on 23 August 2025. He had nothing further to add concerning penalty.

Reasons for Penalty

After reviewing all submissions, the Adjudicative Committee determined that Mr McNab’s level of carelessness was in low to mid-range, leading to a starting point of a 6-day suspension.

The available footage showed that near the 750 metres, Mr McNab allowed his mount to shift inwards, when not the required distance clear of I’M DREAMING, who was checked. A consequence of this was that PLAY IT AGAIN SAM, was crowded on to the running rail. The Adjudicative Committee accepts that KATAMUKU’s racing manners was a factor which was considered, when assessing Mr McNab’s culpability.

This is Mr McNab’s second breach of the Rule and combined with his admission of the breach, a one-day reduction is applied to the 6-day starting point.

After considering all the above factors, a 5-day suspension is imposed.

Conclusion:

Mr McNab’s request for a deferment is granted and his Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 5-days, commencing after racing on 23 August 2025 and concluding after racing on 31 August 2025.