Wanganui JC 6 April 2026 – R1, R3 and R6 – Cody Cole

Background

Stipendiary Steward, Ms L  Selvakumaran, filed an Information against Licensed Trainer, Mr C Cole, alleging late declaration of Riders for GIRL CODE, FLAUNT and CONFIANZA.  This constituted Mr Cole’s third offence of this nature, within a 120 day period.

Mr Cole endorsed the Information, admitting the breach, but electing not to be present at the hearing.

Rule 537(a) provides that:

The Trainer or Owner or lessee (as the case may be) or the Agent of the Trainer, Owner, or lessee (as the case may be) for a horse accepted or deemed to have been accepted for a Race shall:

• declare to NZTR the name of the Rider of that horse by the time and date specified by NZTR for declaration of Riders for that Race.

Evidence

A charge of this type would usually be dealt with by way of a Minor Infringement Notice (MIN), however, as this was Mr Cole’s third breach within the reset period, a formal Information was laid.

Mr Cole was on course, but did not wish to attend the hearing. He advised the Stewards that the late declaration arose, because he had been attending a wedding.

Decision

The charge was admitted and is therefore deemed proved.

Submissions on Penalty

Ms Selvakumaran submitted that Rider declarations were due by 1.00pm on Thursday, but Mr Cole did not advise the Riders for his horses until Sunday. She noted that he did not contact the Stewards in advance, as some Trainers do, when they are having difficulty securing a Rider.

Reasons for Penalty 

This was Mr Cole’s third breach of Rule 537(a) within 120 days, and the breach concerned three horses. While a fine of $150 is commonly imposed for a single late Rider declaration on a third offence, the involvement of multiple horses increases the seriousness of the breach.

The Adjudicative Committee accepted that there were no meaningful extenuating circumstances. Mr Cole did not seek assistance from the Stewards before the declaration deadline, and the explanation offered, did not justify the failure to comply with the requirement. In the circumstances, a penalty above the usual single-horse third-offence starting point was warranted.

Having regard to the number of horses affected, the repeat nature of the offending, and the need to maintain compliance with Rider declaration deadlines, the Adjudicative Committee considered a fine of $250 to be appropriate and consistent with comparable decisions.

Conclusion:

Mr Cole was fined $250.