Auckland RC 1 January 2022 – R3 – Michael McNab

Evidence

This charge arises from the running of Race 3, the First Global Logistics Eclipse Stakes (Group 2 $120,000).  Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr Oatham filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d) alleging the Rider of PACIFIC DRAGON (M McNab), allowed his mount to shift outward over the concluding stages dictating WOLVERINE onto MASCARINTO which was checked.

Mr McNab acknowledged he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach.

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

Using the available Race films Chief Stipendiary Steward, Mr Oatham demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned; namely PACIFIC DRAGON (M McNab), (WOLVERINE (D Johnson) and MASCARINTO (K Asano).

Mr Oatham told the Committee that approaching the 200-metre mark Mr Nab allowed his mount to drift outward dictating the running line of WOLVERINE.  As a result, WOLVERINE was pushed out on to the 5^th placed MASCARINTO.  He added that this did not affect MASCARINTO’s final placing, but it did result in PACIFIC DRAGON, who won the race being relegated, and WOLVERINE who finished second, being promoted.  Mr Oatham said that the essence of Mr McNab’s carelessness was that he should have corrected his mount when it commenced to shift outwards, but he did not do so.

In response Mr McNab accepted that he shifted out. Adding that he does not have a lot to say, other than he should have straightened his mount earlier.

Decision

As Mr McNab admitted the breach the Committee found the charge proved.

Penalty

Mr Oatham produced Mr McNab’s riding record which indicated 2 previous breaches under the careless riding Rule in the last 12 months; namely:

13/02/21 at Te Rapa, suspended 7 days and fined $700.

26/04/21 Avondale, suspended 4 days and fined $250.

Mr Oatham submitted that Mr McNab has had 427 race rides since his last breach.  He is a very busy rider.  He described his record as being very good.

Mr Oatham said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness in the low to mid-range. An aggravating factor is that the breach occurred in a Group 2 race, with stake money of $120,000 with Mr McNab’s share of finishing in second place being $1100. He added that Mr McNab’s mount was relegated.

Mr McNab advised that he has confirmed engagements through to after racing at Te Aroha on 3 January 2020 (rider declarations have closed for that meeting).

In terms of any proposed penalty, he offered no specific submissions.

Reasons for Penalty

After considering the submissions and reviewing the Race film the Committee determined Mr McNab’s carelessness to be in the low to mid-range and adopted a 6-day starting point.  This conforms with the NZTR Penalty Guide.

The available films established that Mr McNab did allow his mount to shift out and he continued to ride forward without correcting his mount.  In doing so WOLVERINE was dictated wider on the track and MASCARINTO was hampered close to the winning post.

This is Mr McNab’s third breach in 12 months, but significantly his first for 8 months during which time he has had 427 raceday rides.  We afforded him a 2-day reduction for his combined good record and admission of the breach.

Aggravating factors are:

That the breach occurred in a Group 2.

That the Race Stakemoney was $120,000.

That Mr McNab’s mount was relegated from first to second.

For these combined aggravating factors, we apply a 3-day uplift.

The NZTR Penalty Guide provides that fines should be added as a %of stakemoney earned in black type races.  On that basis a fine of $500 is imposed.

After considering all the above factors the Committee considered that an appropriate suspension was 7 (national) days plus a $500 fine.

Penalty

Accordingly, Mr McNab’s Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 7 days commencing after racing on 3January 2022 and concluding after racing on 14 January 2022.

Note Rider declarations for Tauranga on 2 January 2022 and Te Aroha on 3 January 2022 have closed.