R Rotorua 5 December 2025 – R1 – Cody Cole
ID: RIB61467
Animal Name:
FLYHALF
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
05/12/2025
Race Club:
Rotorua Racing Club
Race Location:
Arawa Park Racecourse - 274 - 287 Fenton Street, Glenhome, Rotorua, 3010
Race Number:
R1
Hearing Date:
05/12/2025
Hearing Location:
Arawa Park Racecourse - Fenton Street, Rotorua
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Class A Trainer Cody Cole is fined $200
BACKGROUND:
Licensed Class A Trainer, Mr Cody Cole, was charged with a breach of Rule 616(2). Detail in respect of the Information is as follows:
‘failed to declare a noseband and ear cover for ‘FLYHALF’ by the required time‘
Mr Cole had signed the Information “I do admit a breach of the rule”. He chose not to be present at the hearing.
Rule 616 provides:
(2) A Trainer shall not start or attempt to start a horse in a Race in an item or items of Notifiable Gear unless permission has been obtained from a Stipendiary Steward before the horse is accepted or is deemed to be accepted for that Race.
EVIDENCE:
Mr Dooley confirmed that Mr Cody Cole had contacted him late at 8am and Mr Cole acknowledged that he had erred in not advising him in time of a gear change for ‘FLYHALF’. The horse had trialed in the gear and Mr Cole was not expecting to race this horse today. As a first starter, the Stewards allowed the gear to be applied.
As Stewards confirmed, Mr Cody Cole had presented ‘FLYHALF‘ Race 1 with a noseband and ear cover, this represented a breach of the pertinent Rule.
DECISION:
The charge having been admitted, is deemed proved.
PENALTY SUBMISSIONS:
A breach of this type (first or second) would normally be dealt with by way of a Minor Infringement Notice (MIN). This is the Respondent’s fourth breach within the last 120 days. The first was on 19 October 2025 – $50 fine and the second on 25 October 2025 – $100 fine and the third was on 16 November 2025 – $150 fine. Stewards submitted that any fine should incorporate an uplift over that previously imposed and that $200 would be an appropriate fine.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
The Minor Infringement system requires that an Information be filed if the person who is alleged to have committed the breach, has already committed two or more breaches of the same Rule within the preceding 120 days.
The penalty/fine for a “notifiable gear” breach is $100 for a second breach. Mr Cole was fined $150 for his third breach. As this is the fourth breach within the reset period, the Adjudicative Committee, after considering all the evidence, determined that an uplift is appropriate, with a fine of $200.
CONCLUSION:
Class A Trainer Mr Cody Cole is fined the sum of $200.
Decision Date: 05/12/2025
Publish Date: 08/12/2025