Riccarton Park – Canterbury JC 25 January 2025 – R8 – Diego Montes de Oca
ID: RIB51004
Animal Name:
Tanzanite Rose
Code:
Thoroughbred
Race Date:
25/01/2025
Race Club:
Canterbury Jockey Club
Race Location:
Riccarton Park - 165 Racecourse Road, Christchurch,
Race Number:
R8
Hearing Date:
25/01/2025
Hearing Location:
Riccarton Park, Christchurch
Outcome: Proved
Penalty: Class A Jockey, Diego Montes de Oca, fined $200
BACKGROUND:
Class A Jockey, Diego Montes de Oca, was charged that he failed to make the weight for the horse TANZANITE ROSE in Race 8, Speight’s Timaru Stakes (Listed Race).
Rule 346 provides as follows:
- A Rider must not:
(3) fail to ride a horse at the weight at which it is handicapped to carry subject to the conditions of the Race.
EVIDENCE:
Stipendiary Steward, Mark Davidson, said that Mr Montes de Oca, had notified Stewards two races ago that he was unable to make the carded weight (53kg) for his mount TANZANITE ROSE in Race 8. He was going to be 1.5kg over that weight and, despite having spent some time in the sauna, was unable to get down to the carded weight of 53kg, Mr Davidson said. He had been replaced by Brandon May as the Rider of TANZANITE ROSE, at 1kg over.
Mr Montes de Oca did not wish to comment.
DECISION:
As the charge was admitted, it was deemed proved.
SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:
Mr Davidson said that Mr Montes de Oca has a clear record. Such a breach is normally dealt with by way of a fine of $100 under the Minor Infringement Scheme, he said. However, he submitted, since the race was a Listed Race and connections had been affected, an uplift in that penalty would be justified.
Mr Montes de Oca did not wish to comment.
REASONS FOR PENALTY:
Mr Montes de Oca has accepted the ride on TANZANITE ROSE at 53kg. Despite his best endeavours, he has been unable to get down to that weight. He has only notified Stewards a couple of hours before the race. Mr Davidson said that connections had been affected by a late change of Rider and it seems to the Adjudicative Committee that, arguably, punters may have also been affected to a greater or lesser extent.
The race was a Listed Race for a stake of $80,000. An increase in the MIN penalty is required to reflect that.
CONCLUSION:
Class A Jockey, Diego Montes de Oca, is fined the sum of $200.
Decision Date: 25/01/2025
Publish Date: 28/01/2025