Waikato TR 7 February 2026 – R8 – Sam Weatherley

Evidence:

Following the running of Race 8, the BCD Group Sprint (G1), the Respondent Class A Rider Mr S Weatherley admitted a charge of careless riding, which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d).

The Information alleged that as the Rider of PIER, Mr Weatherley permitted his mount to shift in when not sufficiently clear of PROVENCE, who was checked passing the 150 metres.

Mr Weatherley acknowledged he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach.

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, Senior Stipendiary Steward Mr Dooley demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned.

He pointed out PIER who was making ground wide out on the track, with PROVENCE (G Rooke) a length behind on its inner. He said that Mr Weatherley continued to ride forward using his whip and gradually shifted into the running line of PROVENCE. Mr Rooke had to take a hold and restrain his mount off the heels of PIER. As a consequence, Mr Dooley said that PROVENCE was checked and lost momentum.

In response, Mr Weatherley said that “the video evidence speaks for itself.”  He said that he felt he was unlucky to have breached the rule, because he only shifted in half a horse-width. He said that if Mr Rooke’s mount were “going better”, it would have been able to shift in and avoid the heels of PIER.

Decision:

As Mr Weatherley admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved.

Submissions for Penalty:

Mr Oatham advised that Mr Weatherley has a good riding record under the Rule, having only had one suspension in the past 12 months. This occurred on 1 November 2025, resulting in a 6-day suspension.

He said that Stewards assessed the breach to be in the low range, which has a 5-day suspension starting point. He said an aggravating factor was that the breach occurred in a Group Race.

Mr Weatherley had nothing to add concerning penalty.

Reasons for Penalty:

After considering all submissions, the Adjudicative Committee determined Mr Weatherley’s carelessness to be low range and adopted a 5-day penalty as the starting point.

The available films established that Mr Weatherely was racing wide out on the track.  He continued to ride forward using his whip on his mount PIER, who commenced to shift in under pressure. In doing so, he took the rightful running line of PROVENCE, who was checked.

Mr Weatherley’s whip use was a factor in that he should have stopped riding forward using his whip and corrected his mount. He was also charged and dealt with for excessive whip use.

This is Mr Weatherley’s second careless riding breach in 12 months, although it is noted he took a break from racing during that period. Given his generally good record and admission of the breach, his penalty is reduced by one day from the 5-day starting point. However, since the breach occurred in a Group 1 Race, a 3-day uplift is applied.

After consideration of the above factors, a 7-day suspension was imposed.

With regards to the whip breach, which was heard prior to this charge, he was suspended for 5 days, commencing after racing on 14 February 2026 and concluding after racing on 22 February 2026.

The penalty for this careless riding breach and the whip breach, reflects the totality of his offending, which together amounts to a 12-day suspension.

Conclusion:

Mr Weatherley’s License to ride in races is suspended from 23 February, until after racing on 6 March 2026 (inclusive).