Waimate TC 26 October 2025 – R5 – Sarah O’Reilly

Summary of Facts:

Following the running of Race 5, the Respondent Open Driver Sarah O’Reilly denied a breach of Rule 868(3); namely “that when driving YALDHURST FOLLY she failed to drive out to the end of the trace when having a reasonable chance of finishing in 4th position.”

The Respondent, Miss O’Reilly, endorsed the Information ‘I do not admit the breach of the Rule’ and confirmed she understood the Rule, her denial of the breach and the nature of the charge.

Rule 868(3) provides:

(3) Every driver shall drive his or her horse out to the end of the race if he or she has any
reasonable chance of running first, second, third, fourth, or fifth.

Using available video footage, Stipendiary Steward Matt Sole, with the assistance of Stipendiary Steward Shane Renault, identified the horses involved in the incident namely, YALDHURST FOLLY, driven by Miss O’Reilly, racing widest on the track with FOLIEJON STAR, driven by Mia Holbrough, racing to the inside of Miss O’Reilly, approaching the 50m. Mr Renault pointed out on the lateral films, Miss O’Reilly stop driving her horse out near the 50m and eventually finish in 5th position, 1/2 a head from the 4th placed FOLIEJON STAR. Mr Sole stated that had Miss O’Reilly continued to drive her horse out, there was a reasonable chance of YALDHURST FOLLY finishing in 4th place.

Miss O’Reilly stated that she was on the outside of the track and had noticed the track was bare and had patches in the grass, due to the thoroughbreds using the outside for training gallops. She said that she was concerned that her drive would shy at or jump the patches and that was the reason she stopped driving out and took a hold of the horse. Miss O’Reilly also said that the track narrows down towards the post and she was concerned about being forced out over the patchy track on the outside of the track. She added that FOLIEJON STAR shifted outwards inside the 50m, which contributed to her actions.

Reasons for Decision:

After carefully considering the evidence, replays and submissions presented, this Adjudicative Committee was satisfied that Miss O’Reilly stopped driving out her drive, YALDHURST FOLLY,  approximately 50m from the finish, when positioned about 1/2 a length back from FOLIEJON STAR. When under a hold, YALDHURST FOLLY got up to within a 1/2 a head margin from 4th placed FOLIEJON STAR at the post. Miss O’Reilly’s evidence was that she was concerned with the patches on the outside of the track and that her horse may have shied at or jumped them approaching the post, in conjunction with the track narrowing. The Adjudicative Committee found that the replays were conclusive that there was ample room to the outside of Miss O’Reilly from the 50m to the winning post, where the track was not affected by the patches. The Adjudicative Committee also found that the track did narrow down, but this was past the winning post and into the bend out of the straight. It was noted that FOLIEJON STAR did move slightly outwards, but found this shift was minimal and of no effect to YALDHURST FOLLY.

The Adjudicative Committee found that had Miss O’Reilly driven YALDHURST FOLLY out to the end of the race, there was a very reasonable chance that the horse would have finished in 4th place.

Decision:

The Adjudicative Committee accordingly finds the charge proved.

Submissions for Penalty:

Stipendiary Steward Mr Sole produced the Respondent’s record, which indicated a clear record in regard to this Rule. Miss O’Reilly drove on 382 occasions last season, with 7 drives so far this season, after coming back from injury.

Mr Sole stated that the Penalty Guide provided a starting point of a 3 day suspension for a 1st offence, where 4th placing was lost.

He submitted that a suspension of 3 days be considered as penalty

The Respondent made no submissions on penalty, apart from requesting any suspension begin as soon as possible.

Reasons for Penalty:

The Penalty Guide provides a starting point of a 3-day suspension for a breach of this Rule, when 4th placing is lost.

There were no aggravating factors to consider, therefore no uplift was warranted.

After evaluating all of the factors, the Adjudicative Committee determined a 3-day suspension, commensurate with the Penalty Guide, to be an appropriate penalty in the circumstances of this case.

Conclusion:

The Respondent Miss O’Reilly, is suspended from the conclusion of racing on 27 October 2025, up to and including 3 November 2025. Relevant meetings encompassed in this period of suspension were Winton – 31 October 2025 and Kaikoura – 2 November and 3 November 2025.