Banks Peninsula TC 29 December 2025 – R10 (Request for a Ruling) – KISS THE GIRLS

Evidence:

Following the running of Race 10, the Applicant Open Driver, Ms Kimberly Butt, filed an Information requesting a Ruling to determine whether KISS THE GIRLS was denied a fair start.

Rule 213(1)(j) provides as follows:

(1) A Stipendiary Steward at any time may scratch from a race or declare ineligible to start in a race until a specific condition is met any horse on all or any of the following grounds: –

(j) if a horse was denied a fair start and such occurrence materially prejudiced the chances of that horse.

Submissions for Decision:

The Applicant, Ms Butt, stated that KISS THE GIRLS, who had  drawn 2 on the 10m line, was denied a fair start because the Starter’s Assistant holding the tape, was at least 3 seconds slow in releasing the tape after the Starter declared the start and the front line tape was released. She said, with the assistance of Licensed Trainer, Derek Jones, that she observed the start tape on the front line release as the Starter declared the start, but had to hold onto her horse as the 10m tape was at least 3 seconds slow being released by the Starter’s Assistant. She stated that KISS THE GIRLS was an awkward starter, and as she went to move forward initially as the start was declared, she observed the 10m tape still in place and as a result, steadied her drive. Ms Butt said that when the 10m tape eventually released, and she asked her horse to go away, it went into a break and for that reason, KISS THE GIRLS was denied a fair start.

Mr McIntyre stated that there was always a slight delay with the 10m tape, which was normal due to it being hand held. He conceded that on this occasion, the delay was a slightly longer than normal. He said that the 10m line had 4 horses in total on it with all other Drivers being, J Dunn – DANCE TILL DAWN, B Butt – FOLLOW YOUR DREAM and J Morrison – TANZANIA, satisfied with the start process and reporting it did not affect their respective drives.

Reasons for Decision:

The Adjudicative Committee carefully reviewed the films relating to the start of the race and evaluated the evidence and replays.

The Adjudicative Committee was satisfied that there was a delay to the 10m line being released, approx. 2-3 seconds, which is not unusual, as Mr McIntyre stated, but this seemed slightly longer than normal. KISS THE GIRLS was back from the 10m line when the start was declared, and observations of the start and of in particular KISS THE GIRLS, showed Ms Butt moving off when the 10m tape was released and then breaking. The Adjudicative Committee was not convinced or satisfied to required standard, that the slight delay to the 10m tape release, had any effect to KISS THE GIRLS and therefore determined that the horse was not denied a fair start.

Decision:

The Adjudicative Committee ruled that KISS THE GIRLS was not denied a fair start and therefore retained its position in the field as a runner.