Appeal – Written Reserved Decision dated 2 April 2026 – George Rooke

1. Introduction

On the 7th of March this year at Ellerslie, Mr Rooke rode in the New Zealand Derby. That is a Group 1 Race, with total stake money of $1,250,000. Mr Rooke rode the horse Road to Paris. That horse is trained by the partnership of Mr Roger James and Mr Robert Wellwood. Road to Paris won the race. There was a protest by the connections of both the second horse and third horses. Those protests were dismissed. Mr Rooke was charged with careless riding, in breach of Rule 638(1)(d). He pleaded guilty. The Raceday Adjudicative Committee suspended Mr Rooke for 12 days, commencing after racing on the 7th of March and imposed a fine of $10,000.

Mr Rooke appealed the fine. He did not appeal the suspension.

The Appeal was heard at Cambridge on the 26th of March and the Tribunal reserved its decision.

2. Representation

Mr Rooke engaged a Barrister, Mr Andrew Beatson. Mr Beatson filed detailed written submissions. He was not able to appear at the hearing. Those submissions have been carefully considered by the Tribunal. Mr Wellwood spoke in support of Mr Rooke.

3. The Film

The Tribunal was shown the film from various angles and this was commentated upon by Messrs Rooke and Wellwood and by Mr Oatham, on behalf of the RIB. The film demonstrated that Road to Paris was some 8 off the running rail entering the straight and that at the finishing line, it was some 2 or 3 horses off the running rail.

4. Submissions for Mr Rooke

Mr Rooke referencing the various film angles, contended that it was low range careless riding. Mr Beatson in his submissions, also contended that it was low range careless riding. Mr Rooke acknowledged that he had ridden Road to Paris previously and knew of the horse’s tendency not to hold a straight line. On this issue, Mr Oatham drew attention to the Stipendiary Steward’s Report following the running of the Avondale Guineas. Road to Paris was ridden by Mr Rooke. The Stipendiary Steward’s Report following the running of the Avondale Guineas, recorded that Road to Paris was inclined to lay inwards under pressure in the straight, shifting inwards abruptly near the 75 metres, having to be corrected.

Mr Rooke proposed a figure of $4,000. He did not explain how he had come to that figure.

5. Submissions for the RIB

Mr Oatham submitted that the film, considered from all angles, demonstrated that the level of carelessness was in the mid to high range. He emphasised that Mr Rooke did not cease to use the whip, until the horse was only 2 or 3 strides from the winning post.

Mr Oatham pointed to Mr Rooke’s previous record. There had been 9 rule breaches in the previous 12 months. As recently as the 31st of January this year, Mr Rooke was suspended for 7 days.

Mr Oatham emphasised how far the horse had moved inwards, as noted in paragraph 3 above. It was Mr Oatham’s position, that the level of carelessness found by the Adjudicative Committee as mid to high range, was correct.

The Tribunal at an earlier telephone conference, had requested Mr Oatham to provide a reference to previous group races, where fines have been imposed. This was done and a list of 9 races was submitted, dating from 2022. The percentage of the fine, set against the stake money to which the Rider was entitled, ranged from 25% to 50%, with 5 of the 9 cases being at 50%. In the present case, 50% of Mr Rooke’s entitlement of $37,500, would be $18,750. At 25%, the figure would be $9,375. It can be seen that the fine was significantly less than the 50% adopted in the majority of cases referenced above.

6. Conclusion

The Tribunal considers that the Adjudicative Committee finding that the carelessness was above mid-range, was correct.

The Adjudicative Committee did not explain how the figure of $10,000 fine was arrived at. That is unfortunate. Having regard to the percentages in the other cases referenced above in paragraph 5, the figure was not excessive. Mr Beatson provided a list of races where fines had been imposed, but that list did not set out the status of the race, or the stake money that was involved. To succeed on appeal, it must be shown that there was a significant error by the Adjudicative Committee. That has not been demonstrated here. The $10,000 fine was appropriate.

The Appeal is dismissed.

The Tribunal notes that Mr Rooke’s winning way has continued. On Saturday last, the 28th of March, Mr Rooke rode She’s A Dealer to win the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes, a Group 1 Race at Trentham. The stake for that race was $600,000. That horse is trained by the James Wellwood Partnership.

Mr Rooke will make a modest contribution to the costs incurred by the RIB and in assembling the Appeals Tribunal. The sum of $250 will be paid to the RIB and the sum of $250 to the RIB in assembling the Tribunal Members.