Gore RC 26 October 2022 – R7 – Yogesh Atchamah

Evidence 

Following the running of Race 7, the Aon Insurance Brokers Rating 65 1200, the Respondent Apprentice Jockey Mr Yogesh Atchamah admitted a charge of careless riding which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d), by Stipendiary Steward Miss Rebecca Haley.

The Information alleged that as the Rider of OUR CLARRY, he permitted his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of PLAY THE FIELD (A Comignaghi), who was checked passing the 1000m mark.

The Respondent acknowledged he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach. He was assisted at the hearing by Mr Bruce Tapper.

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 Mr Mark Davidson demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned.

Mr Davidson said that OUR CLARRY was racing wide on the track and had moved in several horse widths when not clear of PLAY THE FIELD, who had to be restrained and was checked.

Mr Davidson stated that PLAY THE FIELD was over-racing, but was entitled to hold its ground and had clearly received a check accordingly.

In response, the Respondent admitted he had made an error of judgement and that he had heard Miss Comignaghi yell out to him several times, but he didn’t react quickly enough.

Mr Tapper said that OUR CLARRY was always going forward and that he had won the race, but agreed that Mr Atchamah had made an error of judgement.

Decision 

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

Submissions for Penalty

Miss Haley said that Mr Atchamah’s riding record under the Careless Riding Rule has been clear in the last 12 months. Over that period he has had 78 rides.

Miss Haley said the Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be mid to low range. In mitigation, the Stewards had said that Miss Comignaghi was racing keenly at the time.

Mr Atchamah did not seek a deferment to any proposed suspension and he had nothing further to add in terms of penalty.

Reasons for Penalty 

After considering the submissions and race films, the Adjudicative Committee determined the Respondent’s carelessness to be mid to low range and adopted a 6 day suspension as a starting point.

The available films established that OUR CLARRY was not sufficiently clear of PLAY THE FIELD.

The Respondent has admitted the breach and has a good riding record under the Rule. Accordingly, a one day reduction is applied to the 6 day starting point.

After consideration of all of the above factors, a 5 day suspension was imposed.

Conclusion 

Mr Atchamah’s license to ride in races is suspended for a period of 5 National Riding Days, commencing after racing on the 26th October 2022 and concluding after racing on the 1st November 2022.