Riccarton Park – Amberley 22 June 2024 – R2 – Kendra Bakker

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 2, Cup Week Hospitality On Sale 25 June Rating 65, Class B Jockey, Kendra Bakker, admitted a breach in that, as the Rider of SUZUKA in the race, she rode carelessly in permitting her mount to shift outwards when not sufficiently clear crowding THEE AULD MINX (Kylie Williams) near the 50 metres.

The Respondent was assisted at the hearing by Apprentice Jockey Mentor, Jason Laking.

Rule 638 provides as follows:

(1)    Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be:

         (d)   careless.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Mark Davidson, had Chief Stipendiary Steward, John Oatham, demonstrate the incident on video replays. He pointed out the Respondent’s mount, SUZUKA, and the runner affected, THEE AULD MINX, ridden by Kylie Williams. The Respondent’s mount was laying out rather badly, Mr Oatham said, but the Respondent continued to ride it with the whip and commits it to get out into the line of THEE AULD MINX, which has to check near the 50 metres. It was not the easiest of rides for the Respondent, but she had continued to ride it out with the whip into the line of THEE AULD MINX.

Mr Laking said that the Respondent had led and her mount proved to be not an easy ride. It had been laying out for some distance and she had been using the whip and, in the last stride before she put her hands back on the reins, it really “ducked out” on her, and then she has gone back to the reins and put the whip away.

DECISION:

The breach having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Davidson said that the Respondent has a clear record in the last 12 months. She has had 183 rides in that period. The breach was in the low-mid range, he said. Her mount had ducked out, but she had been riding with the whip and may have cost THEE AULD MINX a top-3 placing, Mr Davidson said.

The Respondent sought a deferment of suspension until after the meeting of Canterbury Racing on 27 June 2024.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that the breach is low-level. Her mount did duck out late, but she had been riding it with the whip. It probably caught her by surprise.

The Respondent’s record is a very good one.

The RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide (February 2023) suggests a starting point for a low-level careless riding breach of a 5-days suspension. There are no aggravating factors. By way of mitigating factors, the Adjudicative Committee has had regard to the Respondent’s admission of the breach and her very good riding record. A 1-day discount from the Penalty Guide starting point is given for those factors.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent’s application for a deferment is granted.

She is suspended under her Class B Licence from riding in races for a period commencing on 28 June 2024, up to and including 3 July 2024 – 4 national riding days.