Hawkes Bay RI 16 October 2021 – R7 – SHOCKALLIA

ID: RIB5227

Respondent(s):
Jonathan Riddell - Jockey

Applicant:
Mr R Wellwood (Trainer) and Mr W Hillis (Trainer)

Adjudicators:
N Moffatt and T Castles

Persons Present:
Ms E Leighton (Rider ISLA JOY), Mr W Hillis (Trainer ISLA JOY), Ms D Johnson (Rider DEEP BEAUTY), Mr R Wellwood (Trainer DEEP BEAUTY), Mr J Riddell (Rider SHOCKALLIA, Mr J Oatham, Mr N Goodwin (Stipendiary Stewards)

Information Number:
A15613

Decision Type:
Protest

Rule(s):
642(1) - Riding/driving infringement - Protest Rule

Plea:
Contested

Protest:
2nd and 3rd v 1st

Animal Name:
SHOCKALLIA

Code:
Thoroughbred

Race Date:
16/10/2021

Race Club:
Hawkes Bay Race Club

Race Location:
Hastings Racecourse - 200 Prospect Road, Hastings, 4122

Race Number:
R7

Hearing Date:
16/10/2021

Hearing Location:
Hastings Racecourse

Outcome: Protest Dismissed

SUMMARY OF FACTS:

Following Race 7 (Tumu Group 1400) Trainers R Wellwood and W HillisĀ  lodged an objection against the winner pursuant to Rule 642(1).

The Information alleged that horse Number 4 (SHOCKALLIA) or its Rider placed 1st by the Judge interfered with the chances of horse Number 1 (DEEP BEAUTY) and horse Number 7Ā  (ISLA JAY) placed 2nd and 3rd by the Judge. The interference occurred over the final stages.

1stĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā  SKOCKALLIA

2ndĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  DEEP BEAUTY

3rdĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā ISLA JAY

4thĀ  Ā  Ā  Ā  Ā ALTERNATE

The official margins were: head, nose, and nose

EVIDENCE:

All 3 video angles were played and the Riders identified prior to hearing from the connections who had lodged the objection.

Mr Hillis (ISLA JAY) protested on the grounds that SHOCKALLIA dictated the running line of the three horses to its inside all the way down the straight, eventually causing tightening to all three just prior to the finish.Ā  He used the head-on film to show where SHOCKALLIA started out 5-wide on the track and ended up in a 3-wide position. Ms Leighton, the Rider, said her horse was storming home. There was a decent run for her on the rail but she ran out of room due to the crowding from the outside, and as a result was forced into the running rail.

Mr Wellwood (DEEP BEAUTY) also protestedĀ  for the same reasons. He said SHOCKALLIA ran inwards down the entire length of the straight and tightened all the other runners to its inside. At approximately the 50m mark Ms Johnson had to take a hold of her mount and this cost her winning the race.

Mr Riddell showed the race from the 400m mark. He maintained that he was pushed out initially by DEEP BEAUTY seeking a run, and then three horses; his own (SHOCKALLIA), DEEP BEAUTY and ALTERNATE all raced down the straight and moved in together. ISLA JAY ridden by Ms Leighton came through on the rail when there was no gap for her and was the cause of all the interference. He said he outstayed all the other runners, the best horses won and in his opinion the protest was frivolous.

For the Stewards, Mr Oatham said DEEP BEAUTY was marginally ahead of SHOCKALLIA for most of the straight and although Mr Riddell did lay in there was no significant contact onto DEEP BEAUTY. His interpretation was that DEEP BEAUTY tended to lay away from SHOCKALLIA and there remained a gap between those two runners. Over the concluding stages Mr Riddell moved ahead of DEEP BEAUTY to win the race. Meanwhile Ms Leighton (ISLA JAY) improved through a very tight gap on the inside of Mr McNab (ALTERNATE). Interference occurred when ALTERNATE lay in on ISLA JAY and the resulting buffeting caused tightening to all four runners right on the line.

CONCLUSIONS:

Rule 642(1) states:

If a placed horse or its Rider causes interference within the meaning of this Rule 642 to another placed horse and the Judicial 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.

The protest was lodged after obvious tightening between four horses near the finish.Ā  Mr McNab (ALTERNATE) finished fourth but elected not to protest after viewing the films.

The objection was against the winner SHOCKALLIA and the Adjudicators had to be satisfied that this horse or its Rider was the cause of the interference. After having regard to all the submissions we were doubtful that the inward movement of Mr Riddell’s mount caused the tightening at the finish. The head-onĀ  view showed the incident occurred right on the line when ISLA JAY came through a narrow run on the fence and ALTERNATE laid in on her. Had Ms Leighton not pushed through on the rail there would have been sufficient room for the outside three runners. It is also notable that Mr Riddell came from behind DEEP BEAUTY and went past that runner to win the race.

DECISION:

Accordingly, the protest was dismissed and authorisation to pay dividends on the Judge’s placings and stake money was approved.

Decision Date: 16/10/2021

Publish Date: 18/10/2021