Auckland TR 18 October 2025 – R8 – George Rooke

Evidence

This charge arises from the running of Race 8, the ELSDON Park 1400. Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Jones filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d) alleging the Rider of TARDELLI (G Rooke), permitted his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of MOVING MELODY, which was dictated into the line of ELECTRON, which was checked near the 300 metres.

Mr Rooke 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 Oatham demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned; namely TARDELLI (G Rooke), MOVING MELODY (T MOODLEY) and ELECTRON (S Collett).

Mr Oatham told the Adjudicative Committee that approaching the 300-metre mark, TARDELLI was mounting a run wide out on the track. Mr Rooke allowed his mount to drift inwards, dictating the running line of MOVING MELODY, who in turn checked ELECTRON.

Mr Oatham added that Mr Rooke was never the required distance clear when shifting in. He said at best, he was only ½ to ¾ of a length clear. He said Mr Rooke did make a belated effort to straighten his mount, but it was too late.

In response, Mr Rooke said that he agreed with Mr Oatham’s description of the incident, but added that he could not have done anything more to avoid shifting in on MOVING MELODY.

Decision

As Mr Rooke admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved.

Submissions for Penalty

Mr Jones advised that Mr Rooke has breached the Rule five times during the past 12 months, from 573 raceday rides. Four of those breaches occurred in New Zealand and the other in Australia on 7 June 2025. His most recent New Zealand breach occurred on 27 April 2025 and resulted in a 5-day suspension.

Mr Jones said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be in the low-to mid-range and submitted that any proposed suspension should be commensurate with a low-to mid-range penalty.

A brief discussion followed concerning Mr Rooke’s record, given this is now his 6th breach in 12 months.

Mr Rooke sought a 7-day deferment to any proposed suspension, until after racing on 19 October 2025 and in terms of penalty, offered no specific submissions.

Reasons for Penalty

After considering the submissions and reviewing the race film, the Adjudicative Committee determined Mr Rooke’s carelessness to be in the low-to mid-range and adopted a 6-day starting point. This is due to the fact that although the actual shift was at the low end, two horses were affected, which elevates Mr Rooke’s culpability into the low to mid-range.

The available films established that Mr Rooke did allow his mount to drift inwards, when not clear of MOVING MELODY. As a further consequence, MOVING MELODY was dictated on to ELECTRON, who was as inconvenienced and checked. At the time of the inward shift, TARDELLI was no more than ¾ of a length clear of MOVING MELODY.

Although this is Mr Rooke’s sixth breach of the Rule within 12 months, it is acknowledged he is a busy Rider, and his last New Zealand breach occurred 6 months ago. On this occasion, his record is treated as a neutral factor, but it was made clear to Mr Rooke, that any further breach of the Rule within the 12 Month reset period, will inevitably result in a penalty uplift being applied. A one-day reduction is applied to the 6-day starting point, in recognition of his admission of the breach. Accordingly, the Adjudicative Committee considered a 5-day suspension to be appropriate.

Conclusion

The Adjudicative Committee granted Mr Rooke a deferment to his suspension and his Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 5 days, beginning after racing on 19 October 2025 and concluding after racing on 26 October 2025.