Riccarton Park – Canterbury JC 28 July 2023 – R5 – Kin Kwo

BACKGROUND:

Following the running of Race 5, Bosch Home Appliances & Harvey Norman Commercial Maiden, Class A Jockey, Kin Kwo, admitted a charge of careless riding in that, as the Rider of WAR COURT in the race, he permitted his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of POUTINI ROSE (Gosen Jogoo), which had to be firmly restrained near the 1050 metres crowding MUMBO JUMBO (Brandon May).

Rule 638(1)(d) provides:

A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

EVIDENCE:

Stipendiary Steward, Mark Davidson, had Chief Stipendiary Steward, John Oatham, show a video replay of the incident, approximately 150 metres after the start of the 1200 metres race.  Mr Oatham pointed out WAR COURT, ridden by the Respondent, which had drawn Barrier 7, POUTINI ROSE, which had drawn Barrier 3 and MUMBO JUMBO, which had drawn 2. WAR COURT jumped to an early lead and, shortly after, commenced to shift in reasonably abruptly, forcing Mr Jogoo on his inside to restrain his mount, shift in and place MUMBO JUMBO on its inside in restricted room. Both POUTINI ROSE and MUMBO JUMBO lost ground.

The Respondent said that he simply thought that he was clear to shift in.

DECISION:

The charge having been admitted, it is deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mr Davidson said that the Respondent has three previous breaches of the Careless Riding Rule on his record – on 29 July 2022 at Riccarton (suspended 6 days for mid-range breach), on 30 October 2022 at Ashburton (suspended 4 days for low-range breach) and, most recently, on 11 February 2023 at Riccarton (suspended 6 days for a low-range breach). The earliest of those will drop off the Respondent’s record tomorrow, Mr Davidson said.

The Respondent has had 213 rides this season, Mr Davidson said. He has not had a breach of the Rule for 5½ months, Mr Davidson said. His record could be regarded as neutral.

The breach was low-range, Mr Davidson said. Both the Respondent’s and Mr Jogoo’s mount were first starters and MUMBO JUMBO had gone on to win the race.

The Respondent had no submission to make concerning penalty. He did not seek a deferment of suspension.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

The breach is assessed by the Adjudicative Committee as low-range careless riding, as submitted by Mr Davidson.

The starting point in the RIB Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide (February 2023) for a low-range breach is a 5-days suspension. The Respondent is given a discount of 1 day for his admission of the breach – he has incurred only two suspensions in the past 12 months (not taking the breach on 29 July last year into account), the most recent being 5½ months ago. This is verging on a good record.

CONCLUSION:

The Respondent, Class A Jockey, Kin Kwo, is suspended for 4 national riding days to commence after racing on 28 July 2023, and ending after the close of racing on 6 August 2023.