Greymouth JC 3 January 2024 – R2 – THE IMMIGRANT

EVIDENCE:

Following the running of Race 2, an Information instigating a protest was presented, initiated by the Applicant, Trainer, Mrs Jackie Burrows.

The Information alleged interference at the 150m by the winner of the Race, THE IMMIGRANT (K Chowdhoory), to the second-place horse POMALO, ridden by Ms Tanya Jonker.

Rule 642(1) provides:

“If a placed horse or it’s rider causes interference within the meaning of this Rule 642 to another placed horse, and the Adjudicative Committee is of the opinion that the horse so interfered with would have finished ahead of the first mentioned horse had such interference not occurred, they may place the first mentioned horse immediately after the horse interfered with”.

All parties confirmed they understood the Protest Rule.

The Judges placings were:

1^st – 2 THE IMMIGRANT

2^nd – 6 POMALO

3^rd – 7 ELUSIVE ANNIE

4^Th – 8 SWEYBANA

The Official margins of the race are:

head, ½ length, ½ length, 2 lengths.

Mr Davidson played the two available videos of the final 300m of the Race and identified the horses involved in the protest and gave a brief description of the incident.

Ms Jonker said as she turned into the straight, she received pressure from Mr Chowdhoory on her outside which, forced her to check her horse and angle across heels to obtain a clear run on the outside of Mr Chowdhoory.

Ms Burrows said her horse has had to check and rebalance and the margin at the finishing post was only a head.

Mr Chowdhoory said the gap was never there for Ms Jonker. He said his horse has shifted a little inwards, but he has straightened immediately and has won the Race comfortably, easing down at the finish.

Mr Pitman used the video to point out Ms Jonker had not stopped riding her horse, perhaps for one stride, as THE IMMIGRANT ran past her. He said the best horse has won the Race with ease.

The Adjudicative Committee asked Mr Davidson for his assessment of the incident. Mr Davidson said Ms Jonker has initially been awkwardly placed on the heels of DIVINE AFFAIR and a gap does appear between it and THE IMMIGRANT. He said THE IMMIGRANT does lay in but is straightened quickly and, as Ms Jonker made her decision to shift to the outside, the gap was still there.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Adjudicative Committee viewed the videos many times and considered all the evidence carefully.

Firstly, it must establish if there was in fact any interference by THE IMMIGRANT to POMALO.

THE IMMIGRANT has laid in when Ms Jonker was looking to improve into a half gap, but the video clearly shows Mr Chowdhoory has instantly corrected his horse. Ms Jonker, at this juncture has decided to ease away from the half gap and move to the outside.

The Adjudicative Committee concludes POMALO may well have been inconvenienced by THE IMMIGRANT but did not suffer interference. Furthermore, the way THE IMMIGRANT has won this Race convinces the Adjudicative Committee to dismiss the protest.

DECISION:

The Protest is dismissed, the Judges’ placings stand, and stakes and dividends are ordered to be paid in accordance with this decision.