Canterbury JC 6 November 2021 – R4 – Samantha Wynne

SUMMARY OF FACTS:

Jockey Samantha Wynne was charged after Race 4, Dakins Group Premier, with careless riding in that, as the Rider of FETTERCAIRN in the race, she shifted ground outwards when not  sufficiently clear of SHOCK PROSPECT (Matthew Cameron) near the 25 metres with that runner being checked.

SUBMISSIONS:

Mr Oatham had Stipendiary Steward, Ms Veronica Algar, show the three available video replays of the final stages of the race. She pointed out FETTERCAIRN, ridden by Ms Wynne, and the affected runner, SHOCK PROSPECT (Matthew Cameron). Ms Wynne was held up behind the heels of the eventual winner ROYCE ROCA and looking for racing room inside the final 100 metres. Ms Algar then pointed out Ms Wynne turn her mount’s head out and angle out, placing Mr Cameron’s mount on her outside, which was being ridden forward, in restricted room and as a result Mr Cameron had to steady his mount, which was checked. There was no room for Ms Wynne to shift her mount into, Ms Algar said.

Ms Wynne said that the leader may have shifted out marginally making the incident look worse. Mr Oatham responded that Ms Wynne had been looking for room for almost the entire length of the straight. Both runners had maintained more or less straight lines with no significant shift from either and Ms Wynne had waited until just before the finishing line before she decided to shift out and place Mr Cameron in “quite severe difficulty”, he said.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY;

Mr Oatham said that Ms Wynne has two previous breaches of the Careless Riding Rule on her record – on 14 November 2020 at Riccarton (suspended 6 days for a low-mid range breach) and at Timaru on 2 May 2021 (6 days and fined $400 for a mid-high range breach). Stewards saw the present breach as being above mid-range, he said. The current Penalty Guide specifies a starting point for a mid-range breach of a 7-days suspension. Mr Oatham agreed with the Committee’s observation that Ms Wynne’s record could be regarded as a neutral factor.

Ms Wynne sought a deferment of suspension until after the 3rd day of the meeting on 13 November.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Committee has taken a starting point of an 8-days suspension for a breach above mid-range. From that starting point, we have allowed Ms Wynne a discount of 1 day for her admission of the breach. Her record is a neutral factor.

CONCLUSION:

Ms Wynne’s application for a deferment of suspension is granted.

Jockey Samantha Wynne’s Class A Licence is suspended after the close of racing on 13 November up to and including 25 November – 7 national riding days.