Auckland TR 6 April 2024 – R6 – Niranjan Parmar

Evidence:

This charge arises from the running of Race 6, the Dunstan Horsefeeds 1300. Senior Stipendiary Steward, Mr B Jones filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d) alleging the Rider of UDERZO (N Parmar), “permitted his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of DEVASTATE  which was dictated inward contacting RUDYARD near the 25 metres becoming unbalanced”.

Rule 638(1)(d) provides: A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

Apprentice Rider Mr Parmar admitted the breach and was supported at the hearing by Northern Rider Mentor, Mr N Harris.

Using all available video footage, Stipendiary Steward Mrs L Selvakumaran demonstrated the incident and identified the horses named in the Information: namely UDERZO (N Parmar), DEVASTATE (A Goindasamy) and RUDYARD (L Sutherland).

With the support of the head and side-on race films, Mrs Selvakumaran told the Adjudicative Committee that UDERZO was racing wide out on the track, with DEVASTATE to its inner and RUDYARD was inside that runner.  All three runners were contesting the lead.  From about the 200 metres, UDERZO commenced to lay in.  At that point, Mr Parmar switched his whip from left to right hand and continued to ride forward.  Whilst shifting ground inwards, DEVASTATE is dictated onto RUDYARD, who became unbalanced.  Once contact is made, Mr Parmar stopped using his whip over the concluding 25 metres of the race.

In response, Mr Parmar stated that he tried to correct his horse, when it commenced to lay in.

In support of Mr Parmar, Mr Harris said that RUDYARD also shifted out during the run up the straight and Mr Parmar did try to straighten by using his whip down his horse’s right shoulder.

Decision:

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

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Jones produced Mr Parmar’s riding record which indicated three previous breaches under the Careless Riding Rule in the last 12 months.  His most recent having occurred on 3 February 2024 at the Otago RC, resulting in a 7 day suspension and $225 fine.

Mr Parmar has had 348 race rides in the past 12 months.

Mr Jones placed Mr Parmar’s level of carelessness in the low to mid-range.  Adding that as a result of Mr Parmar’s carelessness, his mount (UDERZO) was relegated from first equal placing to second, following a post-race protest lodged by the connections of the dead heater (RUDYARD). Mr Jones also submitted that Mr Parmar may be given credit for his admission of the breach and he acknowledged that his mount was a difficult ride over the concluding stages, due to it laying in.

Mr Parmar offered no submissions as to penalty and sought a deferment to any proposed suspension until after racing on 10 April 2024.

Reasons for Penalty:

After considering the submissions and reviewing the race film, the Adjudicative Committee assessed Mr Parmar’s level of carelessness to be in the low to mid-range and adopted a 6 day suspension as the starting point.

The Adjudicative Committee had previously spent some considerable time analysing the race films during the protest that followed the running of the race. The films demonstrate that Mr Parmar continued to ride forward whilst his mount was laying in on DEVASTATE, who in turn was dictated onto RUDYARD, who became slightly unbalanced close to the finish.   The race films show that Mr Parmar changed his whip from left to right hand when his mount commenced to lay in, presumably to take corrective action.  He was on one rein for several strides, but he needed to be more assertive to avoid dictating onto DEVASTATE. On that basis, although his mount was relegated, it is accepted that he made some effort to straighten, and his horse was a difficult ride.  But this does not absolve him of his responsibility to stop riding forward when shifting ground, particularly when not sufficiently clear of any runners on his inside.

Accordingly, in assessing penalty, the Adjudicative Committee has factored into its decision-making, Mr Parmar’s admission of the breach; his record, which is assessed as neutral; and the consequences of his carelessness, i.e., his mount’s relegation from first equal to second placing.

After considering all the above factors, the Adjudicative Committee deemed that an appropriate penalty is a 6 day suspension. This being the result of a one day uplift for the relegation and a one day reduction for his admission, being applied to the 6 day starting point.

Conclusion:

Mr Parmar’s Licence to ride in races is suspended for 6 days, commencing after racing on 10 April 2024 and concluding after racing on 19 April 2024.