Ashburton RC 7 July 2022 – R6 – Kozzi Asano
ID: RIB9936
Animal Name:
Vulture Street
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
07/07/2022
Race Club:
Ashburton Racing Club
Race Location:
Ashburton Racecourse - Racecourse Road, Ashburton, 7700
Race Number:
R6
Hearing Date:
07/07/2022
Hearing Location:
Ashburton Racecourse, Ashburton.
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Apprentice Jockey, Kozzi Asano, fined $500
BACKGROUND:
Following the running of Race 6, Trembath Plumbing Open Handicap 2200m, Apprentice Jockey Kozzi Asano, admitted a charge alleging excessive whip use prior to the 100 metres, on his mount VULTURE STREET.
Apprentice Jockey Mentor, David Walsh, was present to assist.
Rule 638(3)(g)(i) provides that a Rider must not ”strike a horse with a whip more than 5 times prior to the 100-metres mark (other than in a slapping motion down the shoulder with the whip hand remaining on the reins)”.
EVIDENCE:
Using the available video replays Stipendiary Steward, Mark Davidson, demonstrated that, as the Rider of VULTURE STREET in the Race, the Respondent had struck his mount 6 times from the straight entrance to the 100-metres mark.
Mr Davidson pointed out VULTURE STREET, ridden by the Respondent, the leading horse as the field turned into the the final straight. After the 4th strike, the Respondent changed the whip into his left hand and used it on two further occasions. He said that the strikes were well-spaced and it is a long straight.
Mr Walsh said that the race was a race for stayers in testing ground, and changing hands as he did had probably led to the breach.
DECISION:
As the Respondent admitted the breach the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved.
SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:
Mr Davidson said that the Respondent has two breaches of the Rule on his record in the last 6 months – at Auckland on 5 March 2022 (6 strikes, fined $250) and at Wellington on 19 March 2022 (6 strikes, fined $500). This being a 3rd breach, the Penalty Guidelines suggests a starting point of a $500 fine, Mr Davidson said. There were no aggravating factors, he said, and the Respondent only used the whip on a further two occasions inside the 100 metres.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
This is the Respondent’s 3rd breach of the Whip Rule involving one additional strike. The NZTR Revised Penalty Guidelines recommend a starting point for such a breach of a $500 fine. There is no reason to depart from that starting point in this case, there being no relevant aggravating or mitigating factors.
CONCLUSION:
Apprentice Jockey, Kozzi Asano, is fined $500.
Decision Date: 07/07/2022
Publish Date: 11/07/2022