Otago RC 9 September 2022 – R1 and R7 – Brett Murray
ID: RIB11031
Animal Name:
LIGHTNING RIDGE; CATS IN THE CRADLE
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
09/09/2022
Race Club:
Otago Racing Club
Race Location:
Wingatui Racecourse - 285 Gladstone Road North, Mosgiel, Dunedin,
Race Number:
R1
Hearing Date:
09/09/2022
Hearing Location:
Dunedin
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Jockey Brett Murray is fined $300
Facts
Miss Haley alleged that Mr Murray had failed to make the contract weight for LIGHTNING RIDGE in Race 1 and CATS IN THE CRADLE in Race 7 and was replaced.
Miss Haley stated that it had come to the Stewards’ attention before Race 1 that the Respondent would be unable to make the weight for LIGHTNING RIDGE. Later in the day he was also unable to make the weight for CATS IN THE CRADLE.
Mr Murray said he had been ill earlier in the week and could not make the weight for these two mounts despite spending hours in the pool. He had been able to ride at 58 kg. He said he was very disappointed not to be able to take the rides but had done his best to lose the weight.
Decision
As Mr Murray has admitted the breach it is found to be proved.
Penalty Submissions Â
Miss Haley produced the Respondent’s record. This evidenced this was his third breach in 120 days. Mr Murray had been fined $250 on the two previous occasions, and she submitted a modest increase in the penalty was appropriate. Mr Murray had nothing further to add.
Reasons for Penalty
Mr Murray has failed to make the required weight for two mounts. He was replaced in Race 1 by Mr T Moseley and in Race 7 by Mr B May who were similarly experienced Jockeys. Nonetheless, both those people who had invested on the two horses, and the horses’ connections, expected Mr Murray to be the Rider.
This is Mr Murray’s third breach of the Weight Rule in the past three months. The Adjudicative Committee accepts he has weight issues and has done his best to make the weight. However, he has been unable to do so. The principal mitigating factor is his ready admission of the breach. That Riders of similar calibre were able to replace Mr Murray is fortunate but is not something that can be viewed as a mitigating factor.
Conclusion
Mr Murray is fined the sum of $300.
Decision Date: 09/09/2022
Publish Date: 12/09/2022