NZ Metro TC 9 June 2022 – R2 – SEBASTIAN COE

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 2, IRT. Your Horse. Our Passion. Trot, an Information instigating a protest was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, against SEBASTIAN COE (Blair Orange), placed 4th by the Judge, on the ground that it broke in excess of 50 metres over the final 200 metres.

The Adjudicative Committee was informed that Mr Orange did not contest the protest and did not wish to be present at the hearing.

The Judge’s official placings were:

1st     8  Majestic Whisper

2nd   2  Lookslikeatrixter

3rd    3  Ha’Penny Bridge

4th   10  Sebastian Coe.

5th      1  Blithe

Rule 870(3) provides:

Any horse which breaks from its gait shall promptly regain its proper gait.

The Breaking Horses Regulations provide:

Any horse which breaks from its gait within the final 200 metres of any race and continues on in the break for a distance of 50 metres or greater, shall be deemed to be in breach of Rule 870(3) in that it has failed to promptly regain its proper gait.

Where a protest has been duly lodged against the placing of an offending horse , the Adjudicative Committee shall either:

(i)   relegate such horse under Rule 870(4) to behind any other horse in respect of which an advantage may have been gained; or

(ii)  disqualify it from the race under Rule 1003(2).

EVIDENCE:

Mr Renault showed a video replay of the final 200 metres of the race. He pointed out SEBASTIAN COE in the lead at that point. He then showed that, just after passing the marker peg on the inside of the track, indicating the distance of 150 metres from the finishing line, the horse broke from its gait, free of interference, and continued on in a gallop to the finishing line, finishing in 4th placing.

Mr Renault sought disqualification of SEBASTIAN COE.

DECISION:

The protest was upheld and SEBASTIAN COE was disqualified.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Adjudicative Committee was clearly satisfied that SEBASTIAN COE had broken from its gait, free of interference, inside the final 200 metres of the race and had continued on in that gallop for a distance of approximately 140 metres to the finishing line, in a clear breach of the Rule and Regulations. Disqualification is mandatory.

It was noted that Driver, Blair Orange, did not contest the protest.

CONCLUSION:

The protest was upheld and SEBASTIAN COE was disqualified. Consequent upon the disqualification, the amended result for the race is;

1st     8   Majestic Whisper

2nd   2   Lookslikeatrixter

3rd    3   Ha’Penny Bridge

4th    4   Blithe

5th    5   Emily

It was ordered that stakes and dividends be paid in accordance with that amended result.