NZ Metro TC 19 September 2025 – R1 – TROUBLESHOOTER

Summary of Facts: 

Following the running of Race 1, the Applicant, Stipendiary Steward Paul Williams, filed an Information instigating a protest pursuant to r 869A(2) alleging “interference when TROUBLESHOOTER broke near the 800m causing interference to DANCING DESIRE, ANN SOPHIE, TOKYO ROSE and CARDI B.”

The provisional placings  were:

1st   No 6   FOLLOW YOUR DREAM

2nd  No 7   CLASSIE LINC

3rd  No  1   STYLISH LUSTRE

4th  No  2   TROUBLESHOOTER

5th  No  8   TOKYO ROSE

The official margin between 4th and 5th was half a neck.

Rule 869A(2) reads:

(2) When a placed horse or its driver causes interference to another placed horse and the Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that the horse interfered with would have finished ahead of the horse that, or whose driver, caused the interference the Adjudicative Committee must, in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed, place the horse that, or whose driver, caused the interference immediately after the horse interfered with.

Submissions for Decision:

Using the side-on race films relating to the incident, Stipendiary Steward Mr Williams, with the assistance of Chief Stipendiary Steward, Nigel McIntyre, showed that TROUBLESHOOTER, driven by Mr May, broke free of interference near the 800m and in doing so, went back on trailing runners being DANCING DESIRE, driven by Sam Thornley, ANN SOPHIE, driven by Wilson House, TOKYO ROSE, driven by Ms Ottley and CARDI B, driven by Matthew Williamson, and as a result, these runners were checked. Mr McIntyre pointed out, in particular, TOKYO ROSE, lose ground due to the interference and then run on over the concluding stages to finish in 5th place behind TROUBLESHOOTER, with the official margin being half a neck. Mr Williams stated that the Stewards estimated that TOKYO ROSE lost approximately 6-7 lengths, due to the interference caused by TROUBLESHOOTER.

Ms Ottley stated that TOKYO ROSE lost ground in the incident and once balanced up again, ran on strongly over the concluding stages. She added that but for the interference suffered at the 800m, she was of the opinion that TOKYO ROSE would have beaten TROUBLESHOOTER into 4th place.

Mr May stated that TROUBLESHOOTER broke free of interference and there was not a lot he could do to prevent the incident.

Reasons for Decision:

After reviewing the race films and evaluating the submissions from all parties, the Adjudicative Committee was satisfied that TROUBLESHOOTER broke free of interference near the 800m and caused interference to several trailing runners including TOKYO ROSE, who lost ground in this incident. The Adjudicative Committee was also satisfied that following the interference, TOKYO ROSE ran on strongly and made up ground on TROUBLESHOOTER, to finish in 5th place, with the official margin to 4th, being a half neck.

Taking all factors into consideration, including the margin of a half a neck and the amount of ground made up by TOKYO ROSE, the Adjudicative Committee determined that but for the interference to 5th placed TOKYO ROSE by 4th placed TROUBLESHOOTER, at the 800m, TOKYO ROSE, on the balance of probabilities, would have beaten TROUBLESHOOTER, into fourth place.  Therefore the protest is upheld.

Decision:

The protest is upheld and the placings now read as follows. Stakes and dividends are to be paid accordingly.

1st   No 6   FOLLOW YOUR DREAM

2nd  No 7  CLASSIE LINC

3rd   No 1  STYLISH LUSTRE

4th   No 8  TOKYO ROSE

5th   No 2  TROUBLESHOOTER