Riccarton Park – Canterbury JC 24 January 2026 – R10 – Akshay Balloo
ID: RIB63197
Animal Name:
FLAMBOYANCE
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
24/01/2026
Race Club:
Canterbury Jockey Club
Race Location:
Riccarton Park - 165 Racecourse Road, Christchurch,
Race Number:
R10
Hearing Date:
24/01/2026
Hearing Location:
Riccarton Park, Christchurch
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Class A Rider Akshay Balloo is fined $250
Following the running of Race 10, Class A Rider Akshay Balloo, admitted a breach of the Whip Rules in that he struck his mount FLAMBOYANCE on the flank on two occasions over the concluding stages.
Rule 638(3)(f)(x) provides as follows:
(3) Whip Rules
(f) Without limiting the generality of subrule 638(3)(e), in a Flat Race . . . a rider must not use his or their whip:
(x) on the flank of the Rider’s horse.
Evidence
Senior Stipendiary Steward Mark Davidson presented replays that showed Mr Balloo, when using the whip on two occasions over the final 100m, struck his mount on the flank. Mr Davidson added that Mr Balloo went on to win the race with ease and a good margin.
Mr Balloo stated that the replays were clear that he had struck the horse in the flank. He added that he got to the front too soon and used the whip to ensure the horse ran to the line fully.
Decision
As the charge was admitted, it is deemed proved.
Submissions on Penalty
Mr Davidson stated that the Penalty Guide did not provide a starting point for a breach of this Rule, with it stating penalty is fact dependent. He stated, a recent breach at Whanganui on 19 January 2026 where K Myers was fined $300 for several strikes on the horses flank, was of assistance.
Mr Davidson submitted that as Mr Balloo’s number of strikes was two, a fine of $250 be considered as penalty. He added that although Mr Balloo won the race, it was by a good margin and submitted that it was not an aggravating factor to consider.
Mr Balloo elected to make no submissions in regard to penalty.
Reasons for Penalty
In the Penalty Guide, this type of breach is deemed “fact‑dependent,” meaning that the penalty must reflect the specific circumstances of the incident.
The historic penalty of $300 for Ms K Myers for several strikes at Whanganui earlier this month, assisted the Adjudicative Committee with assessing penalty.
The Adjudicative Committee determined there were no aggravating factors to consider, therefore no uplift was warranted.
The Adjudicative Committee therefore determined that a just penalty in this case, was a fine of $250.
Conclusion
Mr Balloo is fined the sum of $250.
Decision Date: 24/01/2026
Publish Date: 27/01/2026