Taranaki RI 27 December 2025 – R5 – Bruno Queiroz

EVIDENCE:

Following Race 5, an Information was presented by Stipendiary Steward Ms Selvakumaran alleging that Licensed Jockey, Mr Queiroz, had breached Whip Rule 638(3)(f)(ii) in that he used his whip above shoulder height on one occasion in the home straight when riding DUJARDIN.

Mr Queiroz admitted the charge.

He explained that a runner to his outside was shifting inwards and, in attempting to avoid striking that horse with his whip, he turned slightly in the saddle and altered his body position, which contributed to his arm rising above shoulder height. Race film confirmed that his whip arm was raised above shoulder height on the single occasion in question.

DECISION:

As the charge was admitted, it was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Ms Selvakumaran produced Mr Queiroz’s recent record, which showed four prior whip-related breaches for using the whip above shoulder height:

• 24 August 2025 – fine $250
• 30 August 2025 – fine $300
• 4 October 2025 – fine $450
• 1 November 2025 – fine $1,000

Ms Selvakumaran said Mr Queiroz has had 380 rides in the last 12 months and while the Penalty Guide was silent on 5th breaches, the Stewards’ submission was for a period of suspension.

In response,Mr Queiroz said he had been improving and it had been nearly 2 months since his last breach.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

This is Mr Queiroz’s fifth breach of Rule 638(3)(f)(ii) within the 6 month reset period, which demonstrates a pattern of non-compliance, despite progressively higher fines for earlier offences. A suspension was required for deterrence purposes, to emphasise to Mr Queiroz and to all Riders, that continued breaches of the Whip Rules will not be met only with monetary penalties.

Although no direct precedents exist for a fifth breach of this Rule, the Adjudicative Committee had regard to the Penalty Guide and examples of other repeat whip offences, where starting points of five days are recommended for fifth offences. The Adjudicative Committee considered a five-day term appropriate and consistent with this approach.

Apart from his poor recent record, no additional aggravating factors were present. Mr Queiroz’s self-reported improvement and the two-month gap since his last breach were acknowledged, but deemed insufficient as compelling mitigating factors to warrant reducing the five-day starting point, given the established pattern of repeated offending.

CONCLUSION:

Mr Queiroz is suspended from close of racing on Saturday January 3rd, until close of racing on Friday January 9th, 2026 – 5 National Days.