Auckland TR – 11 January 2026 – R3 – Kylie Williams

Evidence

This charge arises from the running of Race 3. Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Dooley filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d) alleging the Rider of MISS ZIGGY (K Williams), permitted her mount to shift outwards when not sufficiently clear of EMPIRICAL (W Kennedy) which was which was checked near the 175 metres.

Ms Williams acknowledged she understood the Rule and confirmed her 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, Deputy Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr Jones showed the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned.

Mr Jones told the Adjudicative Committee that approaching the 175-metre mark, MISS ZIGGY was mid-field and searching for a run. Ms  Williams angled out from behind THAT’S GOLD. As a result, she was not the required distance clear of EMPIRICAL, whose rider Mr Kennedy had to check off the hindquarters of FAT CAT (J Doyle). Mr Jones said that at the time of the shift Ms Williams was no more than ¾ length clear of EMPIRICAL.

In response, Ms Williams said that Mr Kennedys mount made slight contact with her horse. She said that originally there was a marginal gap, but it closed and added that this in part was due to “FAT CAT shifting in and that made things a lot tighter.”

Decision

As Ms Williams admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved.

Submissions for Penalty

Mr Dooley said that Ms Williams has had three previous breaches of the Rule in the past 12 Months from 389 raceday rides. He said she is a busy South Island rider, and her record should be treated as a neutral factor.

Mr Dooley said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be in the mid-range and submitted that any proposed suspension should be equal with a mid-range penalty, with an allowance being made for her admission of the breach.

Ms Williams sought a deferment to any proposed suspension until after racing on 14 January 2026. She had nothing to add concerning penalty.

Reasons for Penalty

After considering the submissions and reviewing the race films, the Adjudicative Committee determined Ms Williams carelessness to be in the mid-range and adopted a 7-day starting point.

This is Ms Williams fourth breach in 12 months from 389 race rides. This is a better than average record as it equates to one breach every 100 race rides. Consequently, due to her admission and record a 1-day reduction was applied to the 7-day starting point and the Adjudicative Committee decided that a suspension of six days was suitable.

Conclusion

The Adjudicative Committee granted Ms Williams a deferment to her suspension and her Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 6 days, beginning after racing on 14 January 2026 and concluding after racing on 22 January 2026.