Manawatu RC 2 April 2022 – R6 – MAVEN BELLE

Evidence

Following the running of Race Number 6, an Information was filed Instigating a Protest pursuant to Rule 642(1). The Applicant L Innes alleged that horse Number 7 (MAVEN BELLE) placed 1st by the Judge interfered with the chances of horse Number 8 (WOLVERINE) placed 2nd by the Judge.

The interference was alleged to have occurred over the concluding stages.

The Judge’s provisional placings were as follows:

1st   No. 7   MAVEN BELLE

2nd   No. 8  WOLVERINE

3rd    No. 3  WAITAK

4th    No. 2  ANDALUS

The official margin was 1 and ¼ lengths

Rule 642(1) provides:

“If a placed horse or its 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”.

Submissions For Decision

Prior to hearing submissions from the respective parties, the Adjudicative Committee requested that Stewards show all available race films of the alleged interference and identify the runners. Head-on, side-on, and rear-view aspects were all shown.

Mr Innes was invited to explain his reasons for lodging the protest. He stated that Mr Weatherley (MAVEN BELLE) came from an inside position on the running rail. WOLVERINE had a clear run and was picking up momentum from the top of the straight. 25m (later amended to 75m) out from the winning post Mr Weatherley’s mount moved out under WOLVERINE’s neck which caused Mr Innes to pull his mount outwards off its heels and cost him winning the race. He said he would otherwise have won the race by 1 – 1 and ½ lengths. Mr Innes added that once past the post WOLVERINE was level with MAVEN BELLE and going away from that runner.

Mr Bergerson said the films clearly showed that WOLVERINE was about to pick the leader up but was stopped dead in her tracks when MAVEN BELLE moved outwards and dictated her line of running. He said it was difficult to regain momentum when stopped at that speed. Mr Bergerson estimated the interference cost WOLVERINE a couple of lengths.

Mr Walker asked the Adjudicative Committee to look at Mr Innes’ hand movements and notice that he never stopped using his hands throughout the incident. It was too close to the line, and he was never going to pick up 1 and a ¼ lengths on the winner. Mr Walker said the best horse on the day won and it was irrelevant what happened after the winning post because Mr Weatherley had already eased on MAVEN BELLE.

Mr Weatherley said Mr Innes had not stopped riding at any stage and was still able to push WOLVERINE forward with his hands. He said it was a big margin, MAVEN BELLE was finishing on strongly and he did not believe that the second horse would have beaten him.

Stipendiary Steward Mr Coppins outlined the Stewards’ interpretation of the alleged interference saying that while WOLVERINE was finishing quickly, they could not be certain that it would have beaten MAVEN BELLE.

Reasons For Decision

In accordance with the requirements of the Protest Rule the Adjudicative Committee must firstly establish that interference occurred; and secondly, if interference is established, the horse interfered with would have beaten the other runner, had such interference not occurred.

After hearing submissions and reviewing the video footage the Adjudicative Committee established that with approximately 75m to go MAVEN BELLE ran out into the line of WOLVERINE forcing that runner off its rightful line of running, and as a result WOLVERINE lost a degree of momentum. The Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that MAVEN BELLE did interfere with the chances of WOLVERINE however relegation is not automatic.

The Adjudicative Committee looked carefully at how both horses were finishing at the time of interference (both MAVEN BELLE and WOLVERINE were finishing strongly), where the interference occurred in relation to the winning post and the margin of 1 and ¼ lengths between 1st and 2nd placed horses. Taking all these matters into account the Adjudicative Committee could not be comfortably satisfied that had the interference not occurred WOLVERINE would have beaten MAVEN BELLE.   On that basis, in the exercise of our discretion, the protest was dismissed, and the Judge’s placings stand.

Decision

Accordingly, the protest is dismissed, and the Judge’s placings stand. The Adjudicative Committee authorised the payment of dividends and stake money in accordance with the decision.