Southland RC 14 February 2026 – R3 – Sanu Toolooa

BACKGROUND

Following the running of Race 3, Class A Rider Sanu Toolooa admitted a breach of the Whip Rules, in that he struck his mount, THUNDERFIST, when out of contention of finishing in the first five placings.

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

(iii) when the Rider’s horse is out of contention.

At the start of the hearing, Mr Toolooa confirmed his admission of the breach and that he understood the Rule and the nature of this charge.

EVIDENCE

Senior Stipendiary Steward Mark Davidson, with the assistance of his colleague, Veronica Fisher, used the available race videos to identify the Respondent, riding THUNDERFIST, in second last position entering the final straight. Mr Toolooa was shown using the whip three times in the first half of the straight, with his horse producing no obvious improvement.

Mr Davidson identified two further whip strikes by Mr Toolooa, one at about the 100 metre mark and the other close to the 50 metre mark. Mr Davidson submitted that these last two whip strikes were in breach of the Rule. Stewards believed it was clear by the 100m mark that THUNDERFIST was a beaten runner and had no chance of finishing in the first five placings.

Mr Davidson confirmed that THUNDERFIST finished 8.27 lengths from the winner and beat only one runner home. Notably, in relation to this charge, THUNDERFIST was slightly more than 4L behind the horse placed fifth.

Mr Toolooa said THUNDERFIST had raced poorly at his previous start and had subsequently been scoped. He had used the whip because he wanted to find out if the horse was still trying in his races. Mr Toolooa said he accepted the Stewards’ case.

DECISION

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

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY

Stewards produced the Respondent’s record, which showed one breach of the Rule in the previous 6 months. Mr Toolooa was fined $300 at Ashburton on 19 October last year. The circumstances of this second breach were similar, Mr Davidson said.

The Racing Integrity Board’s Thoroughbred Racing Penalty Guide provided a starting point of a $300 fine for a first breach of this sub-section of the Whip Rule, with no suggested starting point for a second breach.

Mr Davidson submitted that a fine above $300 should apply on this occasion, somewhere in the region of $500. In response to a question from the Adjudicative Committee, Mr Davidson said that the number of non-complying whip strikes were minimal, and that the Respondent was “not a forceful striker with the whip.”

Invited to comment on an appropriate penalty, Mr Toolooa had nothing to add.

REASONS FOR PENALTY

The Penalty Guide provides a starting point of a $300 fine for a first breach of this sub-section of the Rule. There is no suggested starting point for a second such breach. In these circumstances, an increased fine is appropriate.

Penalty precedents for second breaches range from fines of $350 (for an Apprentice Rider found to have used the whip twice when out of contention) to $500 (for an Apprentice Rider found to have used the whip seven times when out of contention).

In this case, the Respondent is an experienced Rider who tries his horse with the whip three times in an acceptable manner soon after straightening for the run home. His horse shows no response and continues to battle. From approximately the 100m mark, Mr Toolooa employs the whip twice more in a manner that breaches the Rule.

Given all of the circumstances, the Adjudicative Committee considers a $400 fine to be the appropriate penalty.

CONCLUSION

Class A Rider Sanu Toolooa is fined $400.