Auckland TR 29 November 2025 – R4 – Wiremu Pinn

Evidence

This charge arises from the running of Race 4. Deputy Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr Jones filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d) alleging the Rider of FIRST FIVE (W Pinn), permitted his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of SUPER PHOTON (C Grylls), which was checked near the 175 metres.

Mr Pinn 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 Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

Using the available race films, Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Dooley showed the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned.

Mr Dooley told the Adjudicative Committee that approaching the 175-metre mark, FIRST FIVE was mounting a run wide out on the track. Mr Pinn allowed his mount to shift inwards and in doing so, he checked SUPER PHOTON, who was three quarters of a length back and on the inside of FIRST FIVE. Mr Dooley said that Mr Grylls, an experienced Senior Rider, anticipated the shift and took a hold of his mount to avoid running up onto the heels of FIRST FIVE.

Mr Dooley said that Mr Pinn was never the required distance clear of SUPER PHOTON, when shifting ground.

In response, Mr Pinn said that he agreed that he shifted inwards but, referencing the films, he said that the horse on the inside of SUPER PHOTON, MERCURIAL, also shifted out slightly and this made the incident look a lot worse. He added that, in his view, the shift was low level.

Decision

As Mr Pinn admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved.

Submissions for Penalty

Mr Jones said that Mr Pinn has had one previous breach of the Rule in the past 12 Months from 309 raceday rides. The earlier breach occurred on 17 April 2025 at Matamata RC and resulted in a 4-day suspension for a low-level breach.

Mr Jones said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be close to the mid-range and submitted that any proposed suspension should be equal with a mid-range penalty.

Mr Pinn sought a 7-day deferment to any proposed suspension, until after racing on 6 December 2025 and in terms of penalty, submitted that he has a good record under the Rule and he is aware that safety is always paramount.

Reasons for Penalty

After considering the submissions and reviewing the race films, the Adjudicative Committee determined Mr Pinn’s carelessness to be in the low-to mid-range and adopted a 6-day starting point. This is due the fact that although the actual shift was at the low end, Mr Pinn was not the required distance clear; SUPER PHOTON was checked, and Rider Mr Grylls, did have to take a strong hold of it to avoid running up onto the heels of FIRST FIVE. Therefore, Mr Pinn’s culpability is assessed as being within the low to mid-range band.

This is Mr Pinn’s second breach in 12 months, from 309 race rides. This is a good record. Consequently, due to his admission and record, a 1-day reduction was applied to the 6-day starting point.

Therefore, the Adjudicative Committee decided that a suspension of five days was suitable.

Conclusion

The Adjudicative Committee granted Mr Pinn a deferment to his suspension and his Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 5 days, beginning after racing on 6 December 2025 and concluding after racing on 13 December 2025.