Reefton TC 30 December 2025 – R9 – BULLIT TRAIN

Following the running of Race 9, Endura / Snowy River Gold Mining Cup (Handicap Trot), an Information instigating a protest was filed by Stipendiary Steward, Shane Renault, alleging that BULLIT TRAIN (Carter Dalgety), placed 3rd by the Judge, “broke in the early stages and failed to lose ground”.

Rule 870 provides as follows:

(4)     Any horse which breaks from its gait in any race and:

          (d)   which fails to lose ground by the break may . . . be placed by the Stipendiary   

                  Steward immediately after any other horse in respect if which any advantage may have been gained.

The Judge’s placings were as follows:

1st    6  Rachmaninov

2nd  8  Helloveamoment

3rd   2  Bullit Train

4th   5  Mavis Jones

The connections of BULLIT TRAIN were represented at the hearing of the protest by the horse’s Driver, Mr Dalgety.

EVIDENCE:

At the commencement of the hearing, Mr Dalgety requested that Mr Renault read the Rule.

Mr Renault then showed video replays of the start of the 2500 metres standing start race. BULLIT TRAIN had drawn barrier position 1 on the front row of the nine-horse field. He pointed out that the horse galloped away and Stewards were alleging that, in that gallop, it failed to lose ground and may have even made some ground.

When the horse settled, he alleged, it had a clear lead and had galloped for about 30-40 metres. It should have lost ground in the gallop and, as a result, had been able to maintain its position, obtain an advantage and end up in the trail.

Mr Dalgety agreed that the horse had galloped away, about 25 metres he estimated. It is a “keen, erratic horse” and he had strong grip on it, he said. He did not see how it could be said that it had gained an advantage, when no other runner had got even close to him. He had a good hold on the horse, pulling it back and it then came back trotting. TU TANGATA, which had been the next fastest horse away, had finished up three places back on the markers. RACHMANINOV (which had begun fast from the 10 metres) was always going to go the front, he said. The next two fastest beginners, FORGIVENESS and MAVIS JONES, were still some distance away, he said. He knew the horse well and always believed it would settle quickly. Finally, he said, he did not believe that the horse had gained any advantage.

DECISION:

The protest was dismissed.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

BULLIT TRAIN has begun well when the barrier was released but, after a stride, has gone into a slow gallop, and has continued in that gallop for the next 20-25 metres, while clear in the lead. It has quickly regained a trot thereafter, when still several lengths clear of the nearest following runner. After approximately 400 metres, it conceded the lead to the eventual winner, RACHMANINOV, which had started from 10 metres. BULLIT TRAIN trailed that runner throughout, eventually finishing in 3rd placing.

Mr Dalgety could clearly be seen to be restraining the horse after the start, and was successful in doing so after a short distance. Over that short distance it may have failed to lose ground, which the Rule requires, but at the same time, it has not gained any ground on other runners.

The Rule gives the Stipendiary Steward a discretion to place the horse after “any horse in respect of which any advantage may have been gained”. Mr Renault has referred it to the Adjudicative Committee to determine the matter. It is difficult for the Adjudicative Committee to find that an advantage has been gained over any other runner in this case.

In exercising its discretion to dismiss the protest, the Adjudicative Committee had regard to the following factors – BULLIT TRAIN was not out of its gait for long enough to gain an advantage, it returned to its proper gait before any material improvement in its position, Mr Dalgety took immediate corrective action and no other runner was disadvantaged.

CONCLUSION:

The protest was dismissed.

It was ordered that dividends and stakes be paid in accordance with the Judge’s official placings as above.