Otago RC 2 June 2024 – R5 – Samantha Wynne

Mr Oatham alleged that Ms Wynne in Race 5 failed to ride her mount PAR TEE out fully when having a reasonable chance of finishing in 4th placing.

Rule 636(1)(d) states: “A person … being the Rider of a horse in a Race, must ride his horse out to the end of the Race if there is a reasonable chance of it running into a position for which there is prize money to be awarded or a dividend to be declared.”

Evidence

Miss Haley identified Ms Wynne on the videos. At the 100 metres, Ms Wynne was in 4th position and had clear running. She identified that Ms Wynne had sat up in the saddle before the winning post. Ms Wynne finished 5th, a half head behind the 4th horse.

Mr Oatham assessed that for 3 to 4 strides prior to the finish, Ms Wynne had stopped riding. He pointed to Ms Wynne’s head coming up and her sitting up in the saddle. He said there was no danger of her striking the heels of the horse in front of her. She should have stayed down in the saddle and pushed her mount forward. He acknowledged that PAR TEE had earlier received interference.

Ms Wynne said PAR TEE had been knocked off balance by the interference and she was looking after the horse. She was doing the right thing for the horse and herself. She was trying to keep PAR TEE balanced. She said she went to grab hold of PAR TEE, as she thought if she kept pushing the horse, it would go on to heels.

When questioned by the Adjudicative Committee, she said she was not aware there was a horse finishing to her outside.

Mr Oatham summed up by stating that the films demonstrated that Ms Wynne had made a misjudgement. She had been using the whip after the interference and prior to standing up from the saddle. There was no danger of her going on to heels.

Ms Wynne summed up by stating everyone was shifting ground. She was not free of interference.

Reasons for Decision

The video evidence is clear. For 3 or 4 strides prior to the finish Ms Wynne has stood up in the saddle. At the time she was in 4th place. She finished 5th, beaten by a half head by the 4th horse. There is no doubt that Ms Wynne suffered interference earlier in the home straight. However, as Mr Oatham states, Ms Wynne was able to balance her horse and ride it forward with the whip subsequent to this. It did not prevent her continuing to push PAR TEE out to the winning post. There was no danger of her getting on to the heels of the horses in front. The side-on video demonstrates there was a margin to these horses.

Ms Wynne has made a misjudgement. She had a reasonable chance of finishing in 4th place. In these circumstances, the charge under r 636(1)(d) is found to be proved.

Decision

The charge is found proved.

Submissions as to Penalty

Mr Oatham produced Ms Wynne’s record. It was clear under this Rule. He submitted a penalty at the 2-week starting point in the Penalty Guide was appropriate.

Ms Wynne stated that she believed such a penalty would be excessive, having regard to the circumstances of the breach. She also requested a deferment of penalty until after the Timaru Meeting on 9 June.

Reasons for Penalty

It was a misjudgement by Ms Wynne, but one made in circumstances where earlier in the straight, her mount had become unbalanced by buffeting, and this may have had some impact upon her subsequent judgment with respect to the need to keep the horse balanced to the line. The Penalty Guide provides a starting point of a 2-week suspension where the placing lost is 4th. A one-day reduction in the starting point is appropriate for the circumstances of the breach. It is not a frequently breached Rule and there is no discount for clear record. The fact Ms Wynne did not admit the breach is not aggravating, but is the absence of a mitigating factor.

Conclusion

Ms Wynne’s Licence to ride in races is suspended from the end of racing on 9 June, up until the conclusion of racing on 21 June 2024. This is 6 national riding days.