Ashburton RC 7 July 2022 – R1 – Sanu Toolooa

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 1, Norm & Leanne Stewart 1600m, the Respondent Apprentice Jockey, Sanu Toolooa, admitted a charge of careless riding which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d).The Information alleged that, as the Rider of CHOKITO in the race, Mr Toolooa permitted his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of ANDREA (Terry Moseley) which was dictated inwards resulting in MR RAFIKI (Rohan Mudhoo) being checked and making contact with the running rail near the 1400 metres.

The Respondent acknowledged that he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach.  Apprentice Jockey Mentor, David Walsh, was present to assist.

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

EVIDENCE:

Using the available video replays, Stipendiary Steward, Mark Davidson, had Chief Stipendiary Steward, John Oatham, demonstrate the incident and identify the runners involved. On a head-on video replay, he pointed out CHOKITO, ridden by the Respondent, which had drawn barrier 6 at the 1600 metres start, racing 3-wide shortly after the start. To the inside of and behind that runner was ANDREA (Terry Moseley, drawn 3) and racing to its inside was MR RAFIKI (Rohan Mudhoo, drawn 1), nearest the rail.

Mr Oatham then showed that the Respondent permitted his mount to shift in, dictating Mr Moseley inwards and also dictating Mr Mudhoo inwards. Crossing the junction to the course proper, Mr Mudhoo was forced inside the line of the running rail and had to check his mount and come out, striking the running rail as he did so, Mr Oatham said.

On a side-on video replay, Mr Oatham showed that the Respondent, at the time, was a bare length clear of Mr Moseley, who had already taken a hold of his mount. Mr Mudhoo was 1 1/4 lengths behind Mr Moseley.

Apprentice Jockey Mentor, David Walsh, said that initially Mr Moseley hard shifted away but the Respondent was not sufficiently clear and the incident was “pretty clear cut”.

DECISION:

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

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Stipendiary Steward, Mr Davidson produced the Respondent’s riding record which showed one previous breach of the Careless Riding Rule in the last 12 months – at Otago on 10 September 2021 (suspended 5 days for a low-level breach). The Respondent has had 223 rides since that breach. The present breach was mid-range or above. It was quite a nasty check to Mr Mudhoo’s mount. A term of suspension of 7-8 days would be an appropriate penalty, Mr Davidson submitted.

Mr Walsh said that he accepted what Mr Davidson had said. The Respondent would take any suspension starting immediately, he said.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

This was a quite bad case of careless riding. It was fortunate that the consequences were not more serious. They could have been, as Mr Mudhoo was forced inside the line of the running rail over the crossing to the course proper. He could not avoid hitting the rail after checking his mount and coming back out.

The Adjudicative Committee assessed the breach as being above mid-range and, accordingly, has taken a starting point, having regard to the NZTR Revised Penalty Guide, of an 8-days suspension.

The Respondent is entitled to a discount for his admission of the breach and, in particular, his excellent riding record under the Rule. That discount is to be 1 day.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent, Apprentice Jockey Sanu Toolooa, is suspended for 7 national riding days to commence after the conclusion of racing on 7 July 2022 up to and including 20 July 2022.