NZ Metro TC 5 September 2025 – R10 – Colin DeFilippi

Following the running of Race 10, Ian Dobson Memorial – Johnny Globe Classic, Open Driver, Colin DeFilippi, as the Driver of IRISH DREAM in the race, denied a charge that he “drove carelessly in the run home by anticipating a run to the inside of BAR LOUIE (Tim Williams), resulting in his runner racing over track markers”.

Rule 869 provides:

(3)  No driver in any race shall drive:- 

    (b) carelessly

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Matt Sole, had Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, show the available video replays of the final 200 metres of the race. Mr Renault pointed out that, approaching the home turn, IRISH DREAM, driven by Mr DeFilippi, was racing four places back on the markers in the nine-horse field. BAR LOUIE was racing in the trail behind the leader and ALWAYS DREAMING (Nathan Williamson) was racing three places back.

Mr Sole said that, as the field turned for home, ALWAYS DREAMING shifted away from the markers, enabling Mr DeFilippi to take a run to its inside. BAR LOUIE was entitled to and took the passing lane run. At about the 100 metres, Mr DeFilippi attempted a run to the inside of BAR LOUIE and ran inside the track markers and galloped for a few strides. Mr DeFilippi had to check the horse. There was never a full run for Mr DeFilippi’s horse and sulky when he attempted the inside run, Mr Sole submitted. Mr DeFilippi had anticipated a run becoming available if BAR LOUIE shifted out in the run home, he said.

Finally, Mr Sole said, Stewards did not believe that the chances of Mr DeFilippi’s runner were affected, and it would have finished in the same position had it not attempted the inside run.

Mr DeFilippi, with reference to the rear-on video replay, showed that the leader, RUBIRA (Mark Purdon) was two cart-widths off the markers, leaving room for two horses, he submitted. BAR LOUIE had taken an inside run and, the moment he took the inside run, Mr Williams had “pulled his horse down”, he said. He submitted that there had been room for his runner and he had waited. RUBIRA had maintained a straight line. Had Mr Williams kept a straight line, Mr DeFilippi said, he may not have got through the whole gap but he may have and finished 4th, and there would not have been any trouble. It looked bad, because Mr Williams had put him over the markers, he said.

In conclusion, Mr Sole said that Stewards accepted that Mr Williams had shifted “marginally”. However, Mr Williams had ownership of the passing lane and was not obliged to ensure that a gap was left for another horse. Mr DeFilippi had gone into a gap when there was no gap there, he said.

DECISION:

The charge was found proved.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Adjudicative Committee was comfortably satisfied that Mr DeFilippi has driven carelessly. He has attempted to take a run inside BAR LOUIE, where there was insufficient room, possibly anticipating that runner to shift out over the concluding stages, as often happens. It did not happen and Mr DeFilippi has run over track markers, when a full run did not eventuate. He put his defence to the charge quite eloquently, but the Adjudicative Committee was not persuaded, the video evidence telling the story graphically. The charge of careless driving was found proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Sole said that Mr DeFilippi has had 94 drives this season and 134 last season. He has a clear record under the Careless Driving Rule. The breach was low-level, he submitted. The chances of Mr DeFilippi’s were not impacted, he said.

The Penalty Guide starting point was a $300 fine or a 2-days suspension and that was the submission of Stewards. Mr DeFilippi indicated that he would prefer a suspension.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Adjudicative Committee finds that the breach was low-level, as submitted by Mr Sole. Mr DeFilippi has attempted to take a run to the inside of BAR LOUIE, where there was an insufficient gap. He has raced inside markers but, as for consequences, the Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that there were few or none. His runner was likely to have finished in the same placing (6th), as if he had not attempted the run.

The RIB Harness Racing Penalty Guide suggests a starting point for penalty for a first, low-level breach of a $300 fine or a 2-days suspension. There are no relevant aggravating or mitigating factors to be considered.

Mr DeFilippi expressed a preference for a term of suspension over a fine. He advised that he had notified drives at the meeting of Methven TC on 7 September.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent, Open Driver, Colin DeFilippi, is suspended from after the close of racing on 7 September 2025, up to and including 14 September 2025 – 2 days.