Auckland TR 7 March 2026 – R10 (Request for a Ruling) – MID OCEAN

Evidence:

Following the running of Race 10, Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr John Oatham, lodged an Information Requesting a Ruling, pursuant to Rules 918(1) and 632(1), to establish whether MID OCEAN received a fair start.

MID OCEAN did not finish in the first four placings.

The basis for the request was due to the starting gates malfunctioning. MID OCEAN was slow to leave its barrier and lost at least a length and a half at the start.

Rule 632(1) provides “If, in the opinion of the Adjudicative Committee, a horse which does not finish in the first four placing’s was prevented from taking an effective part in a race owing to the mechanical failure of starting stalls, or is denied a fair start and such occurrence materially prejudiced the chances of that horse (but not where the horse is slow away of its own accord), the Adjudicative Committee may declare such horse to be a non-starter.”

Submissions for Decision:

Using the head-on race film, Mr Oatham demonstrated the start of the race. Mr McGovern (the Starter) explained that in the starting process, he calls “watch the gates” and then presses the starting button. However, in this case, the gates did not open immediately as they should when he pressed the button, there was a second or so delay.

The Rider, Ms S Collett, said that her horse had moved forward on the Starter’s call and as the gate did not open, MID OCEAN had hit the gate and forced it open. The horse had been stunned hitting the gate, which should have been opening and had then hesitated, after hitting the gate. The horse was further impeded, as the gate did not catch after being forced open, and came back on the horse, as it left the barrier.

The result was, the horse was a length and a half behind the field, at the start.

Reasons for Decision:

The Adjudicative Committee carefully considered the submissions presented and reviewed the camera angle of the race start.

It was clear from the film of the start, that MID OCEAN forced its gate open following the Starter’s call, due to the malfunction delaying the opening of the gates. It was then further impeded by the gate, which did not catch as it should have after it opened, and came back on the horse.

MID OCEAN was impeded in leaving the barrier and lost at least a length and a half. It finished outside the dividend bearing placings.

There was evidence of a mechanical malfunction with the starting gates, and the Adjudicative Committee was satisfied that this was the cause of the horse being slow away.

Decision:

Accordingly, under the provisions of the Rule, the Adjudicative Committee declared MID OCEAN a non-starter and all bets on that runner to be refunded.