R Te Aroha 2 June 2025 – R6 – Ngakau Hailey

ID: RIB55632

Respondent(s):
Ngakau Hailey - Apprentice Jockey

Applicant:
Mr A Dooley - Senior Stipendiary Steward

Adjudicators:
Mr M Godber (Chair), Ms J Howard

Persons Present:
Mr A Dooley, Mr B Jones - Senior Stipendiary Steward, Mr N Hailey, and Ms D Sweeney (Support person for Mr Hailey)

Information Number:
A19230

Decision Type:
Race Related Charge

Charge:
Failure to ride out to the end of the race when there was a reasonable chance of running into second place

Rule(s):
636(1)(d) - Riding/driving infringement

Plea:
Admitted

Animal Name:
GALLANT HERO

Code:
Thoroughbred

Race Date:
02/06/2025

Race Club:
Racing Te Aroha

Race Location:
Te Aroha Racecourse - Stanley Road South, Te Aroha,

Race Number:
R6

Hearing Date:
02/06/2025

Hearing Location:
Te Aroha

Outcome: Proved

Penalty: Apprentice Jockey Ngakau Hailey is suspended for 3 weeks

CHARGE

Following the running of Race 6, Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr A Dooley presented a charge under Rule 636(1)(d) that Apprentice Rider Mr N Hailey, failed to ride out his horse GALLANT HERO, to the end of the race when there was a reasonable chance of his mount running into second place.

Rule 636(1)(d) provides:

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 declared.

EVIDENCE

Mr B Jones (Senior Stipendiary Steward) showed the film of the race over the last 50 metres, with GALLANT HERO on the inside in second place and IRRIGATE (Mr R Goyaram), wide on the track in third place. He illustrated that some 50 metres from the finish, Mr Hailey stood up in the saddle and stopped riding his mount, which then relaxed for the 6 to 7 strides before the winning post. As a result, IRRIGATE ran past his runner into second position, with GALLANT HERO finishing third.

Mr Hailey agreed with the Stewards’ description of the incident and said he had misjudged the situation. There was a large pole on the inside before the winning post, which he misjudged. Also, he was having difficulty in breathing, as he had been unwell. He had subsequently stood himself down from racing for the rest of the day.

DECISION

The charge having been admitted, was deemed proven.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY

Mr Dooley stated this was a serious charge, with a starting point in the Penalty Guide of a 4 weeks suspension. The result of Mr Hailey’s misjudgment affected both punters and the owners. The Stake for 2nd being $6,475 and 3rd $3,150. The difference of $3,325 was the cost of Mr Hailey’s misjudgment to the owners of GALLANT HERO. Punters had been affected by the horse running 3rd instead of 2nd, affecting the dividends for quinella, trifecta and first four.

Mr Dooley noted that to his credit, Mr Hailey had a clear record under this Rule; he has had 197 rides this season and he readily admitted the breach. While he was unwell, he did not raise this with the Stewards before the race and he had now been stood down for the rest of the meeting. On balance, the Stewards considered the mitigating factors could be considered in a reduction from the starting point of 4 weeks, but felt a minimum of a 3 weeks suspension was required.

Ms Sweeney and Mr Hailey noted that Mr Hailey had only recently returned to riding, had had weight problems and was unwell. They put these matters forward as mitigating factors.

REASONS FOR PENALTY 

After considering all the circumstances, the Adjudicative Committee considered that it was a serious charge and adopted the starting point of a 4 week suspension. However, the Adjudicative Committee considered that there were mitigating factors, as noted above and determined that a reduction of 1 week from the starting point of 4 weeks was appropriate. Therefore, Mr Hailey’s Licence to ride was suspended for 3 weeks.

Mr Hailey requested and was granted a determent of the penalty applying, until after racing on Saturday 7 June. The penalty to therefore apply from Sunday 8 June, until the conclusion of racing on Saturday 28 June 2025 inclusive (3 weeks).

CONCLUSION

Mr Hailey’s Licence to ride is suspended from the conclusion of racing on Saturday 7 June, to the conclusion of racing on Saturday 28 June 2025 inclusive (3 weeks).

 

 

 

Decision Date: 02/06/2025

Publish Date: 04/06/2025