Auckland TR 28 May 2022 – R10 – Munna Alam

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 10, Dunstan Salute 1300, the Respondent Class A Jockey, Munna Alam, admitted a charge of careless riding which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d). The Information alleged that, as the Rider of GWEN’S DAUGHTER in the race, he permitted his mount to shift out under pressure passing the 300 metres when insufficiently clear of HARD NOSE which was hampered and forced wider.

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, showed the incident on the available video replays. She identified the runners involved, GWEN’S DAUGHTER, ridden by the Respondent, and HARD NOSE, ridden by Ryan Elliot. She demonstrated that, shortly after turning into the home straight, Mr Alam, riding his mount forward with his whip, shifted out and continued to shift out and forced ELYSIAN FIELDS (Sam Spratt) wider on the track and has also checked HARD NOSE, which was also forced wider. Stewards believed that Mr Alam should have straightened his mount sooner when it was running away from the whip, Mrs Selvakumaran 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 1 December 2021 at Rotorua, suspended 14 days for high-end carelessness.

The present breach is in the low-to-mid range, Mr Williamson submitted. Mr Alam had shifted out some 5 horse-widths while using his whip and eventually came out into the line of HARD NOSE, whose Rider was forced to take evasive action. ELYSIAN FILEDS was also forced over extra ground, he said.

Mr Alam said that he had accepted rides at the Cambridge meeting on 1 June next, although Riders had not been declared. It was explained to him that, if he had agreed to rides at that meeting, he was expected to fulfil those rides. He therefore sought a deferment.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

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

The Respondent has been riding in New Zealand this season after completing his apprenticeship in India. In that time, he has incurred only one careless riding penalty from 37 rides. That record is not a bad one and the Respondent has admitted the breach, even though it was clear breach.

The Adjudicative Committee can give the Respondent a discount from the 6-days starting point for his riding record and admission of the breach, and we fix that discount at 1 day.

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.