Riccarton Park – Canterbury JC 16 November 2024 – R6 – Craig Grylls

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 6, Barneswood Farm 52nd New Zealand 1000 Guineas, Class A Jockey, Craig Grylls, admitted a breach of Rule 638(1)(d) in that, as the Rider of KITTY FLASH in the race, he “angled his mount to shift outward with LOVE POEM (Matt Cartwright) having to be steadied away from its heels passing the 1200 metres”.

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:

Chief Stipendiary Steward, John Oatham, had Stipendiary Steward, Rebecca Haley, show the incident on the three available video replays. Ms Haley pointed out KITTY FLASH, ridden by Mr Grylls, racing in 2nd position approaching the 1200 metres. LOVE POEM was racing one-off the rail behind Mr Grylls. She then showed that Mr Grylls angled his mount out, when not sufficiently clear of Mr Cartwright, probably only a bare length, causing Mr Cartwright to check and lose a length.

Mr Grylls said that the leader had cleared him and he saw an opportunity to get to the leader’s outside. He had looked, but had not seen KITTY FLASH. He agreed that he was only a bare length clear and that Mr Cartwright had had to “steady”. It had been an error of judgement on his part, he said.

DECISION:

The breach having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Oatham said that Mr Grylls has an excellent riding record, with only one breach in the last 12 months – on 20 October 2024 at Waverley, suspended 5 days. He has had 681 rides in that period.

The level of carelessness on this occasion was at the lower end of the scale, Mr Oatham said. He had steadied to allow the leader to come across and had misjudged it in coming out. Mr Oatham reminded the Adjudicative Committee that the race was a Group 1 Race.

Mr Grylls stressed his good record as referred to by Mr Oatham. He sought a deferment until after the meeting of Racing Rotorua on 19 November.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The Adjudicative Committee assessed the breach, on this occasion, as being a low-level breach, for which the RIB Thoroughbred Penalty Guide suggests a starting point of a 5-days suspension. Having regard to the status of the race (Group 1) and the stake payable ($550,000), there will be an uplift to that starting point of 2 days. For the mitigating factors of Mr Grylls’ excellent riding record and his admission of the breach, he is given a discount of 1 day from that adjusted starting point.

CONCLUSION:

Mr Grylls’ application for a deferment is granted.

Class A Jockey, Craig Grylls’ Licence to ride in races is suspended from 20 November 2024 to 28 November 2024, both dates inclusive – 6 National Riding Days.