Auckland TC 29 April 2022 – R4 – Steve and Amanda Telfer

Following the running of the “NATIONAL STYLE STAKES” May 27 Mobile, an Information was lodged by Stipendiary Steward Mr Ben van Kan against the Steve and Amanda Telfer Training Partnership alleging that they presented SOMEDREAMSOMEWHERE to race without the notified removable deafeners.

Rule 865 provides under sub-rule (1):

The trainer or person in control of a horse shall give notice, in the manner prescribed in the Approved Gear Regulations, of the notifiable gear to be worn by a horse in a totalisator race no later than the official deadline for the notification of drivers at the race meeting in which a horse is entered.

Sub-rule (2) provides:

Every horse entered in a totalisator race shall be presented in the assembly area prior to the race in the same notifiable gear as that notified under sub-rule (1).

Mr Benjamin Butcher was at the hearing and he confirmed to the Adjudicative Committee that he was authorised to represent the Telfer Partnership. He admitted the breach.

Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Steve Mulcay spoke on behalf of the Stewards . He said that gear charges are normally dealt with under the Minor Infringement Scheme, but in this case this was the 3rd charge for the Telfer Partnership in 120 days and because of this, it was being presented to the Adjudicative Committee.

The previous charges were on the 2nd of January 2022 (fine $150) and 23rd January 2022 (fine $200).

Mr Butcher said that the Telfer Partnership trains a lot of horses with stables in Auckland and Christchurch. He said that they were often shifting horses from one stable to another and that SOMEDREAMSOMEWHERE was one of those horses. He said as a result it was hard sometimes to keep up with the changes.

DECISION:

The breach is admitted and therefore the charge is upheld.

PENALTY SUBMISSIONS:

Mr Mulcay acknowledged the statements made by Mr Butcher concerning the operation of the Telfer Training Partnership, and again confirmed that it was only because this was the third charge in 120 days, that this matter was being dealt with by an Information.

He said that because of the mitigating factors, the Stewards were looking for a fine similar to the last one.

Mr Butcher had nothing further to add.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

This is a straightforward matter based on the number of charges in a short period of time. The size of the operation is not necessarily an excuse, but the Adjudicative Committee understands that errors can occur when horses are shipped back and forwards between stables.

It is appropriate to deal with this matter by way of a fine.

PENALTY DECISION:

The Telfer Training Partnership is fined the sum of $200.