Auckland TR 1 January 2026 – R9 – Niranjan Parmar
ID: RIB62354
Animal Name:
PERICLES
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
01/01/2026
Race Club:
Auckland Thoroughbred Racing
Race Location:
Ellerslie Racecourse - 100 Ascot Ave, Ellerslie, Auckland, 1050
Race Number:
R9
Hearing Date:
01/01/2026
Hearing Location:
Ellerslie
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Jockey Niranjan Parmar is fined $500
Following the running of Race 9, Class A Rider Mr N Parmar admitted a charge of using his whip on his mount PERICLES when out of contention of running in the first five placings.
The charge was filed pursuant to Rule 638(3)(f)(iii) which provides that:
a Rider must not use his whip when the Rider’s horse is out of contention of running in the first five placings.
Mr Parmar stated that he understood the nature of the charge, the Rule and admitted the breach.
EVIDENCE
Using available race films, Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr A Dooley demonstrated the incident. He identified Mr Parmar’s mount, PERICLES, who was racing near the rear as the field entered the home straight. From the 350 metres, the horse kept giving ground; Mr Parmar struck his mount on three occasions with one further strike just before the last 100. He was never in contention of finishing in the first five placings and finished in 10th place, 7 lengths from the winner.
While admitting the charge, Mr Parmar considered the horse was still making ground with his first two strikes.
DECISION
As Mr Parmar admitted the charge, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved (Rule 915(1)(d) refer).
SUBMISSIONS TO PENALTY
Deputy Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr B Jones, advised that Mr Parmar had a previous charge under this Rule on 16 November 2025 at Rotorua ,where he incurred a fine of $350.
Mr Dooley submitted that the Penalty Guide had no figure for a second breach, this being fact dependent and being determined by the Adjudicative Committee. An aggravating factor in this case, he considered, was that it was a Group 2 Race. In the Steward’s view, a fine of $500 would be appropriate.
Mr Parmar accepted that a fine would be imposed.
REASONS FOR PENALTY
The films did not support Mr Parmar’s contention, that when he applied the first 2 strikes, the horse was making ground. In fact, it was apparent that from the 350m, his horse continued to give ground.
The race films clearly showed that Mr Parmar struck his mount four times when out of contention and it was apparent that it had no chance of finishing in the first five placings, when the strikes were applied.
The Penalty Guide provides for a starting point fine of $300 for a first offence. Aggravating factors are, that it was a Group 2 Race and this is his second offence.
After considering all the circumstances, in particular it being Mr Parmar’s second offence and a Group 2 Race, the Adjudicative Committee applied a fine of $500 as being appropriate.
CONCLUSION
Class A Rider Mr Parmar is fined $500.
Decision Date: 01/01/2026
Publish Date: 02/01/2026