Central Otago RC 29 November 2024 – R3 – Nayton Mitchell

Background:

Following the running of Race 3, Class B Trainer Nayton Mitchell was charged with a breach of Rule 614(2), the details of the alleged breach being that Mr Mitchell saddled GENIEINABOTTLE and HARRY GEE incorrectly by placing the saddles on the wrong horses.

Rule 614(2) provides:

A person must not be neglectful or careless in saddling a horse.

At the start of the hearing, Mr Mitchell confirmed his admission of the breach and that he understood the Rule and the nature of the charge.

Evidence:

The Respondent is the Registered Trainer of HARRY GEE and was acting as caretaker of the Carston stable runner, GENIEINABOTTLE. Both horses were entered to run in Race 3 at the Central Otago Racing Club’s meeting on 29 November 2024.

Ms Haley said the two saddles for GENIEINABOTTLE and HARRY GEE were accidentally swapped before saddling.

The mistake was detected when the brands were checked at the plate inspection area prior to the race. GENIEINABOTTLE and HARRY GEE were sent back to the stable area where they were correctly resaddled. Ms Haley said there was no delay to the start time of the race.

The Respondent accepted the error was ultimately his responsibility. Based in Canterbury, he was caring for 7 horses on the trip away to Cromwell. Mr Mitchell works very closely with the Carston Stable in Canterbury. He had been looking after a Carston runner in Race 2 and had therefore asked another Trainer to collect the Race 3 saddles for him.

Brandon May was riding No.11, GENIEINABOTTLE. Yogesh Atchamah was riding No.16, HARRY GEE. Both Jockeys ride regularly for the Carston and Mitchell Stables.

Mr Mitchell, who took charge of saddling HARRY GEE, was handed what he believed to be the correct saddle and saddlecloth for HARRY GEE. He explained that he knew from his close working relationship with the Jockeys that Mr May and Mr Atchamah had the same saddle with the same markings.

“That’s why I never even thought twice about it. I should have checked,” Mr Mitchell said.

He said two other Trainers, including the person who collected both saddles, assisted him by saddling GENIEINABOTTLE.

He further explained that the saddlecloth numbers did not give him pause, because HARRY GEE (No. 16) was a gelding which was carded to carry more weight than the mare GENIEINABOTTLE (No. 11).

Decision:

As the Respondent has admitted the breach, it is found to be proved.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Mitchell has been a Licensed Trainer for some 18 months. Stewards advised his record is entirely clear.

Stewards referred to a previous breach of the Rule last December, in which Trainer Stephen Marsh was fined $400 in similar circumstances. Ms Haley submitted that Mr Mitchell’s admission of the breach and his clear record, along with the fact there was no delay to the start of the race, should be taken into account as mitigating factors.

Asked for his view on an appropriate penalty, Mr Mitchell said the breach was “a good lesson learned” and he would not make the same mistake again.

Reasons for Penalty:

As expressed in the aforementioned Marsh Decision, strict compliance with the procedure required by the Rule is vital, not simply to correctly identify horses by saddlecloth numbers, but to ensure a horse carries the saddle with which its Rider has weighed out, and consequently carries the correct weight.

The RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide provides for a fine of $750 for a breach of this Rule when there are consequences for the betting public and owners, or horse or Rider safety issues are apparent. There were no such consequences here. The mistake was detected as part of the process of pre-race checks, the horses were correctly resaddled and there was no delay to the start of the race.

The level of fine was reduced to $400 in the Marsh case, to reflect there were no consequences of the kind described in the Penalty Guide.

On this occasion, the Adjudicative Committee reduces the starting point of a $750 fine by one-third, to reflect the lack of consequences from the breach. This brings us to a $500 fine. The Respondent’s excellent record and admission of the breach warrants a further reduction of $100. The fine is therefore set at $400.

Conclusion:

Class B Trainer Nayton Mitchell is fined $400.