Riverton RC 2 November 2025 – R2 – Donovan Cooper

BACKGROUND

Following the running of Race 2, Class B Rider Donovan Cooper admitted a charge of using the whip on the flank of his horse. The particulars of the charge were that Mr Cooper allegedly struck his mount, SIGHT TO SEE, on one occasion on the flank in the final straight.

Rule 638(3)(f) provides that, in a Flat Race or Trial, a Rider must not use their or her whip:

(x)   on the flank of the Rider’s horse.

At the start of the hearing, Mr Cooper confirmed his admission of the breach. He was assisted by Senior Jockey Terry Moseley.

EVIDENCE

Mr Davidson used the available race videos to identify the Respondent leading with SIGHT TO SEE in the home straight. The zoom technology isolated one backhand use of the whip by Mr Cooper at about the 150 metre mark which clearly connected with the flank of the horse. The footage showed the mare reacting to this by swishing her tail.

Stewards also considered whether a second whip strike was in breach, but determined it had connected legitimately behind the saddlecloth.

Mr Moseley accepted the evidence presented by Stewards, submitting that it was not the worst example of a breach of the Rule. Mr Cooper had nothing to add.

DECISION

As Mr Cooper has admitted the breach, it is found to be proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY

Mr Davidson advised that Mr Cooper had been warned under this sub-section of the Rule on 13 September 2025. Stewards had also spoken to Mr Cooper after Race 1 at this meeting about a similar concern, and to remind him of his obligations.

Three precedents involving whip use on the flank in the previous 12 months were referenced by Mr Davidson, who said the penalties ranged between fines of $300 (for two strikes) and $500 (four strikes).

Stewards were unable to find any precedent involving a single strike on the flank, which was the extent of breach here.

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide did not provide a starting point for breaches of this sub-section of the Whip Rule. Any penalty was fact dependent, Mr Davidson said.

Given Mr Cooper’s admission of the breach and his status as an Apprentice Jockey, and the fact the breach was limited to one offending strike, Stewards considered a fine of about $200 an appropriate penalty, Mr Davidson said.

Mr Cooper and Mr Moseley made no submissions on the matter of penalty.

REASONS FOR PENALTY

With no starting point specified in the Penalty Guide, the Adjudicative Committee must rely on the facts presented to arrive at an appropriate penalty. Stewards advise there is no precedent involving a single whip strike to the flank. Consideration then turns to the precedents that are available under this relatively new sub-section of the Whip Rules.

Stewards made reference to three precedent breaches, in which penalties ranged between fines of $300 (for two strikes on the flank) and $500 (four strikes on the flank).

This breach involves a single whip strike by an Apprentice Jockey. The Adjudicative Committee therefore adopts a starting point of a $200 fine.

A slight uplift of $25 is added because Mr Cooper went on to win a race. This modest increase reflects that the offending single use of the whip happened in the drive to the finish, but also acknowledges the winning margin of 1.25 lengths and the view of the Adjudicative Committee that this breach most likely did not affect the outcome.

CONCLUSION

Class B Rider Donovan Cooper is fined $225.