Auckland TR 28 May 2022 – R10 – Darren Danis

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 10, Dunstan Salute 1300, the Respondent, Class A Jockey Darren Danis, admitted a charge of careless riding which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d). The Information alleged that, as the Rider of HOT SALSA in the race, he permitted his mount to shift in near the 1300 metres when not sufficiently clear of HARD NOSE which was hampered losing ground.

The Respondent acknowledged that 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 Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Lauren Selvakumaran, demonstrated the incident on video replays. She pointed out the two runners involved – HOT SALSA, ridden by the Respondent, and HARD NOSE, ridden by Ryan Elliot, which had drawn barriers 12 and 5 respectively at the 1400 metres start. She showed that Mr Danis had come across towards the rail at “quite an abrupt angle”, shortly after the start, and had crossed HARD NOSE when barely a length clear, causing HARD NOSE to be hampered and lose ground.

Mr Danis admitted that he had come in at quite an angle. He did have a look but, by that time, the damage had been done. He tried to correct his mount, but it was too late, he said.

DECISION:

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

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Williamson said that the Respondent has one suspension for careless riding on his record – on 2 April 2022 at Avondale, suspended 5 days for a low to mid-range breach. Stewards were submitting, he said, that this breach was lower than mid-range. The shift was an abrupt one and Mr Danis had plenty of time to get across. The check to the other runner, HARD NOSE was in the low-mid range.

Mr Danis asked for a deferment until after racing at Cambridge on 1 June.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Adjudicative Committee assessed the breach as being in the low-to-mid range for which the starting point under the NZTR Revised Penalty Guide (effective 1 March 2022) suggests a starting point of a 6-days suspension.

From that starting point, the Respondent is entitled to a discount for his admission of the breach and his riding record which, we consider, is a very good one (197 rides in the current season from 1 August 2021).

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent’s request for a deferment is granted, and his Class A Jockey’s Licence is suspended for a period of 5 national riding days commencing after the close of racing on 1 June 2022 up to and including 6 June 2022.