Waikato TR 7 February 2026 – R2 – Tayla Mitchell

Evidence:

Following the running of Race 2, Apprentice Rider Ms T Mitchell (assisted by Ms MacDonald), admitted a charge of careless riding, which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d). The Information alleged that as the Rider of PORTLAND, she allowed her horse to shift inwards shortly after the start when not sufficiently clear of MISS JONES (O Bosson), which had to be steadied and was forced inwards, crowding STARCLAN (R Elliot), VELVET BLUE (S McNab) and SARTI (V Colgan) near the 1050 metres.

Ms Mitchell acknowledged she understood the Rule and confirmed her admission of the breach. She was assisted at the hearing by Ms MacDonald.

Rule 638(1)(d) provides: A Rider shall not ride a horse in a manner which the Adjudicative Committee considers to be careless.

Using the available race films, Deputy Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr B Jones demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned.

Mr Jones said that shortly after the start of the race, Ms Mitchell crossed at a sharp angle from barrier 7. She was not sufficiently clear of MISS JONES, whose Rider Mr Bosson, had to steady and was dictated onto STARCLAN, who a neck was away on its inside. In turn, STARCLAN crowded VELVET BLUE and SARTI. He said that all horses were checked to varying degrees. At the time of the shift into the line of MISS JONES, PORTLAND was never the required distance clear.

In response, Ms Mitchell said that the video evidence was very clear. She said it was a high-speed race and did not realise she had shifted in at such an angle. She accepted that she should have taken more care.

Decision:

As Ms Mitchell admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved.

Submissions for Penalty:

Chief Stipendiary Steward Mr Oatham said that this is Ms Mitchell’s second breach of the Rule in the last 12 months, from 341 race rides.  He described her record as very good and noted that she freely admitted the breach.

Mr Oatham said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be in the mid-range, due to four runners being impacted by her inward shift.

Ms Mitchell advised that she could commence any proposed suspension immediately. She had nothing further to add concerning penalty.

Reasons for Penalty:

After considering all submissions, the Adjudicative Committee determined Ms Mitchell’s carelessness to be in the mid-range and adopted a 7-day suspension as the starting point.

The available films clearly established that Ms Mitchell shifted her mount inwards from an acute angle and was never the required distance clear of MISS JONES. As a result, four horses were checked to varying degrees. Three of those four horses finished in the first four placings.

Ms Mitchell is given credit for admitting the breach and having had a good record under the Rule for than 12 months, this being her second breach since April 2025. She is therefore afforded a 1-day reduction from the 7-day starting point.

After consideration of the above factors, a 6-day suspension was imposed.

Conclusion:

Ms Mitchell’s Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 6 days, commencing after racing on 7 February 2026 and concluding after racing on 18 February 2026.