Riccarton Park – Canterbury JC 10 March 2022 – R3 – Courtney Barnes

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 3, Tunnel Wash Maiden, the Respondent, Class A Rider, Courtney Barnes, admitted a charge of careless riding which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d). The Information alleged that, as the Rider of CEEDOUBLEUJAY, she permitted her mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of ZAPPOLINO (Brett Murray) which was dictated inwards onto VECTOR (Tanya Jonker), which was checked near the 1200 metres.

Rule 638(1)(d) provides: A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Veronica Algar, had Chief Stipendiary Steward, John Oatham, show the incident using the available video replays. He identified the horses and Riders concerned. CEEDOUBLEUJAY, ridden by Ms Barnes, had drawn the outside barrier position in the 12-horse field at the 1400 metres start. ZAPPOLINO had drawn inside her at barrier 11 and VECTOR, barrier 9.

Mr Oatham showed that, shortly after the start, Ms Barnes angled her mount inwards to take up a position closer to the rail. She was not clear of Mr Murray whose mount was dictated inwards, causing Ms Jonker to have to check her mount, he said. The interference to Mr Murray was “fairly minimal” – he was just dictated inwards and had to take a slight hold, and Ms Jonker’s mount was racing quite greenly and had reacted quite poorly, Mr Oatham said.

Using the side-on video replay, Mr Oatham showed that Ms Barnes’ mount was just under a length clear when she shifted in. Ms Jonker’s mount was just a length inside Mr Murray’s mount, he said, and did not react kindly when Ms Jonker took a hold of it, which made the incident look slightly worse.

In response, the Respondent said Ms Jonker’s mount had overreacted. It was just a slight misjudgement on her part, she said.

DECISION:

As the Respondent admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Ms Algar referred to the Respondent’s record which showed a breach of the Careless Riding Rule on 2 May 2021 at Timaru (4 national riding days and a $400 fine for a mid-range breach) and one of improper riding on 14 July 2021 at Cambridge (suspended 7 days). Her record since that time is clear and her record is good for a busy Rider, Ms Algar said.

Stewards saw this breach as being low-range. The revised Penalty Guidelines (from 1 March 2022) provide a starting point of a 5-days suspension for a low range breach, Ms Algar said.

Ms Barnes said that she has ridden throughout the country since the breach at Cambridge. She advised of riding engagements through until 19 March and sought a deferment of any proposed suspension.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

After considering the submissions, the Adjudicative Committee determined the Respondent’s carelessness to be in the low range and adopted a 5-days suspension as the starting point, in accordance with the NZTR Penalty Guide (as from 1 March 2022).

The videos clearly showed that Ms Barnes had shifted her mount inwards shortly after jumping and, not sufficiently clear of Mr Murray, had dictated him inwards causing a check to Ms Jonker. There was some minor contribution from Ms Jonker’s mount. The Adjudicative Committee accepts that it was an error of judgement on Ms Barnes’ part.

The Respondent’s record is a good one. In the current season to date, she has had 245 rides and in the 2020/2021 season had 407 rides. A 1-day  reduction was applied to the 5-days starting point for her admission of the breach and good record.

CONCLUSION – PENALTY:

Ms Barnes’ application for a deferment is granted. Her licence to ride in races is suspended for 4 national riding days from the close of racing on 19 March up to and including 26 March 2022.