NZ Metro TC 19 April 2025 – R11 (request for a ruling ) – MAVIS JONES
ID: RIB54129
Animal Name:
Mavis Jones
Code:
Harness
Race Date:
19/04/2025
Race Club:
NZ Metropolitan Trotting Club Inc
Race Location:
Addington Raceway - 75 Jack Hinton Drive, Addington, Christchurch, 8024
Race Number:
R11
Hearing Date:
19/04/2025
Hearing Location:
Addington Raceway, Christchurch
Outcome: Determination
Penalty: N/A
Following the running of Race 11, Hector’s Premium NZ Gin “Racing Rewards” Handicap Trot, the Applicant, Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, filed an Information requesting a ruling pursuant to Rule 213(1)(j) as to whether MAVIS JONES, co-trained and driven by, the Respondent, Ben Hope, was denied a fair start.
Rule 213 provides:
(1) A Stipendiary Steward at any time may scratch from a race or declare ineligible to start in a race until a specific condition is met any horse on all or any of the following grounds:
(j) if a horse was denied a fair start and such occurrence materially prejudiced the chances of that horse
EVIDENCE:
Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, said that Stewards did not support MAVIS JONES being declared a late scratching. He showed a video replay of the start of the race, a standing start race over the distance of 2600 metres and pointed out that MAVIS JONES, had drawn barrier position Unruly 2 of the six unruly runners on 10 metres in the 15-horse field.
Mr Renault said that it had appeared that Mr Hope had simply misjudged the position from which he was to start. He was wider on the track than the Unruly 2 position. The horse has broken shortly after the start.
Mr Hope said that he had been following the horses in front of him and he was denied an opportunity to get into his starting position. As he turned his horse, it had ducked outwards and he had not had the chance to get her into the right position to begin before the tape was released and his horse had “can-canned away”, he said.
REASONS FOR DECISION:
The Adjudicative Committee was clearly of the view that MAVIS JONES was not denied a fair start. It was coming into line as the barrier strand was released. The mare had, because of Mr Hope’s error, started wider on the track than it ought to have. However, notwithstanding this, it had trotted safely off the mark and then galloped, free of interference, after a few strides.
CONCLUSION:
The Adjudicative Committee ruled that Horse No. 10, MAVIS JONES, driven by Mr Hope, was not denied a fair start.
Decision Date: 19/04/2025
Publish Date: 23/04/2025