Auckland TR 7 June 2025 – R2 – Jasmine Fawcett

Evidence:

Following the running of Race 2, the Respondent Class A Rider J Fawcett admitted a charge of careless riding, which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d).  The Information alleged that as the Rider of ASHOKA, she permitted her mount to shift outwards when not sufficiently clear of SAVVYSUPER, which was checked approaching the 400m.   

The Respondent acknowledged she understood the Rule and confirmed her 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, Stipendiary Steward J Oatham demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned. He said that Ms Fawcett was racing in a loose one off position prior to the turn, with Mr Grylls slightly behind and to her outer. He said that Ms Fawcett then commenced to shift outwards, when only a bare length clear of Mr Grylls.  Mr Oatham identified that Mr Grylls was riding his mount hard to try and hold its position, but as Ms Fawcett continued out into a 3 wide position, Mr Grylls had to check his mount to avoid the heels of Ms Fawcett’s mount.

Ms Fawcett in response, said that it was a misjudgement on her part and she wasn’t aware that Mr Grylls was improving to her outer. She added that she was looking to clear the heels of the horse in front of her, after racing in behind off a slow tempo.

Decision:

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

Submissions for Penalty:

Stipendiary Steward B Jones produced the Respondent’s riding record, which indicated 5 previous breaches under the Careless Riding Rule in the last 12 months. He said that Stewards assessed the penalty to be in the mid range and believed a penalty of 7 days would be appropriate.

The Respondent advised of riding engagements through until the 15th of June and sought a deferment to any proposed suspension. She asked the Adjudicative Committee to consider she had admitted the breach and it was a field of (inexperienced) 2yo’s.

Reasons for Penalty:

After considering all submissions, the Adjudicative Committee determined the Respondent’s carelessness to be in the low-mid range and adopted a 6 day penalty as the starting point. This conforms with the NZTR Penalty Guide (as of 1 March 2022).

The available films clearly established that the Respondent shifted out, when she wasn’t the permissible own length plus another length clear of Mr Grylls’ mount. Ms Fawcett’s shift was only 2 horse widths, and the resulting interference only affected one horse, which, while the Rider had to take a hold for several strides, didn’t cause it to lose any discernible ground.

The Respondent’s riding record is treated as a neutral factor.

After consideration of the above factors, a 6-day suspension was imposed.

Conclusion:

The Respondent’s request for a deferment is granted and her Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 6 days, commencing after racing on 15/6/25 and concluding after racing on 26/6/25.

Ms Fawcett was advised by the Adjudicative Committee, that any future breaches within the reset period, may result in an uplift in penalty.