Winton HRC 14 November 2021 – R7 – OUR PINOCCHIO

Mr Renault, Stipendiary Steward, alleged that horse 15, OUR PINOCCHIO in Race 7 broke late in the run home, galloped over the finishing line, and was lapped on by INSIST THE WIN and CHEEKY MONKEY.

Judge’s placings were:

1st 13 ONE TWO MENNY

2nd 11 JACCKA WATCH

3rd 15 OUR PINOCCHIO

4th 8 INSIST THE WIN

5th 3 CHEEKY MONKEY

The official margin between 3rd and 4th was a 1/2 length with a nose back to 5th.

Mr Renault demonstrated on the videos that in his view OUR PINOCCHIO broke just before the winning post and continued in a gallop past the finishing line. He demonstrated with reference to the margins and by freezing the side-on video footage that the horse was lapped on by INSIST THE WIN and CHEEKY MONKEY.

Mr Bublitz, the Junior Driver of OUR PINOCCHIO, stated that he represented the connections of that horse and he did not contest the protest. His employer, Mr Phil Williamson, the Trainer of the horse, briefly looked at the video and also confirmed that the protest was not contested.

The Committee is satisfied that OUR PINOCCHIO was in a gallop at the winning post and was lapped on by INSIST THE WIN and CHEEKY MONKEY. OUR PINOCCHIO has broken free of interference and, in these circumstances OUR PINOCCHIO is relegated to behind INSIST THE WIN and CHEEKY MONKEY.

Amended placings are:

1st 13 ONE TWO MENNY

2nd 11 JACCKA WATCH

3rd 8 INSIST THE WIN

4th 3 CHEEKY MONKEY

5th 15 OUR PINOCCHIO

Stakes and dividends are to be paid accordingly.