Riccarton Park – Canterbury JC 15 November 2025 – R4 – George Rooke

Following the running of Race 4, Concut Premier, Class A Jockey, George Rooke, admitted a breach of Rule 638(1)(d) in that, as the Rider of TO CATCH A THIEF in the race, he “allowed his mount to shift in, dictating SPEED DIAL (Yogesh Atchamah) inwards into the line of PURE ARTIST (Matt Cartwright), which was crowded and checked near the 1200 metres”.

Rule 638 provides as follows:

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

      (d)   careless.

EVIDENCE:

Chief Stipendiary Steward, John Oatham, had Senior Steward, Mark Davidson, show video replays of the incident, approximately 200 metres after the start of the 1400 metres event. Mr Davidson pointed out the runners involved – TO CATCH A THIEF, ridden by Mr Rooke (drawn barrier 12), SPEED DIAL, ridden by Yogesh Atchamah (drawn 10) and PURE ARTIST, ridden by Matt Cartwright (drawn 9).

Mr Davidson pointed out Mr Rooke heading inwards from its wide draw. SPEED DIAL was trying to stay out but Mr Cartwright, riding PURE ARTIST, was clearly in trouble and had to check his mount, which lost its rightful position, he said.

Mr Rooke said that he had made his intention clear, that he was going to come over. He did not hear a call from either of the other two Riders. He submitted that Mr Atchamah “did not do a lot” to help matters.

DECISION:

The breach having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Oatham said that Mr Rooke’s record is not a good one. This charge of careless riding is his seventh in the last 12 months. Earlier breaches are:

30 November 2024 at Auckland TR – 4 days, good record

6 March 2025 at Waverley – 5 days, low-range breach

19 April 2025 at Auckland TR – 7 days, Listed Race

27 April 2025 at Wanganui – 5 days, low range

7 June 2025 at Eagle Farm, Queensland – 14 calendar days, Group 1 Queensland Oaks

18 October at ATR – 5 days, low-to-mid range, record treated as neutral.

In the last 12 months, Mr Rooke has had 562 rides, so is a busy Rider. The breach was seen by Stewards, Mr Oatham said, as being in the low-to-mid range.

Mr Rooke confirmed that he wished a deferment of any term of suspension, until after 22 November next.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Adjudicative Committee assessed the breach, on this occasion, as being in the low-to-mid-level range, for which the RIB Thoroughbred Penalty Guide (February 2025) suggests a starting point of a 6-days suspension.

The Adjudicative Committee gave earnest consideration to Mr Rooke’s record of careless riding breaches which, on the face of it, is not a good one. It noted, however, that he has committed only one breach in the last five months, in which time he would have had a large number of rides. This shows he is trying hard not to offend.

The Adjudicative Committee also notes that the Committee dealing with his most recent breach, on 18 October, treated his record as “neutral”, but sounded a warning that “any further breach of the Rule within the 12 month reset period will inevitably result in a penalty uplift being applied”. In deference to that, this Adjudicative Committee applies a 1-day uplift, to 7 days, to the Penalty Guide starting point. For Mr Rooke’s very frank admission of the breach, the Adjudicative Committee gives a 1-day discount from that adjusted starting point. The end result is a 6-days suspension

CONCLUSION:

Mr Rooke’s application for a deferment is granted.

Class A Jockey, George Rooke’s Licence to ride in races is suspended from after the close of racing on 22 November 2025, to up to and including 3 December 2025, after which date he may ride – 6 national riding days.