Banks Peninsula TC 24 September 2023 – R10 – STRAIGHT FLUSH

EVIDENCE:

Following the running of Race 10, a Protest was lodged by Mr John Dunn, the Driver of HAYLEY’S MEDDLE, placed 3rd by the Judge, alleging interference in the final straight by the winner of the race, STRAIGHT FLUSH (B Orange).

The official placings of the race were:

1st    6   STRAIGHT FLUSH

2nd   9   MAREN FRANCO

3rd    1   HAYLEY’S MEDDLE

The official margins were, a nose, half neck.

The Adjudicative Committee inquired why it was presented with the Information just 5 minutes prior to the official start time for Race 11.

Stipendiary Steward Mr Matt Sole advised there was a false start in Race 10, followed by a gear issue, compacting the gap between the 2 races and there was a delay in assembling the 2 Drivers. Although accepted, it was unsatisfactory for a Protest Information to be presented at such a belated time.

Stipendiary Steward Mr Shane Renault played 2 angles of the home straight video to show the alleged interference.

Mr Dunn used the video to show at approximately the 200m after making a run to the inside of Mr Orange, having to check his horse, ease it out and make his run on the outside of Mr Orange. Mr Dunn said it was difficult to assess how much ground the check had cost him.

Mr Orange said after his horse has ducked in, he could feel Mr Dunn shift across him to the outside and although he has gradually got to him, he felt he was never going to get past him.

Chairman of Stewards Mr Paul Williams was asked for his assessment on the merits of the Protest. He said he believed the check to Mr Dunn has cost him at least a length and once clear, has made significant ground on Mr Orange in the last 100m.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Adjudicative Committee’s opinion is that Mr Dunn has had to check his horse hard back from the inside of Mr Orange’s wheel, manoeuvre to the outside, gather momentum, and has run STRAIGHT FLUSH to a half a neck.

After carefully considering all the evidence and viewing the videos many times, the Adjudicative Committee was completely satisfied that had it not been for the interference sustained from STRAIGHT FLUSH, HAYLEY’S MEDDLE would have beaten that horse to the post.

DECISION:

The Protest is upheld, STRAIGHT FLUSH is relegated from first to third placing and the amended result is as follows.

1st   9 MAREN FRANCO

2nd  1 HAYLEY’S MEDDLE

3rd   6 STRAIGHT FLUSH

Stakes and Dividends were ordered to be paid in accordance with the amended result.