Wellington RC 27 October 2024 – R6 – Rihaan Goyaram

Evidence:

Following the running of Race 6, the Respondent Mr R Goyaram admitted a charge of careless riding which was filed pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d).  The Information alleged that  R Goyaram (Meandeel) allowed his mount to shift inwards when not sufficiently clear of Sotirio (L Hemi) which was checked.

The Respondent acknowledged he understood the Rule and confirmed his admission of the breach. Apprentice Mentor Ms K Clapperton was present to assist.

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

He said that approaching the 400 metre mark, Mr Goyaram has angled inwards when not the required distance clear of runners in behind. While on the inward movement, he hit his horse instead of correcting its line. Ms Hemi had her line taken and while she didn’t clip a heel, Rider Mr Goyaram was never the required distance clear of her.

In response, Mr Goyaram said he accepted the charge of careless riding and admitted that he hadn’t being paying attention and should not have used the stick when he did. Ms Clapperton said he angled inwards, but has just overdone it.

Decision:

As the Respondent admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee finds the breach proved.

Submission for Penalty:

Stipendiary Steward Mr Davidson produced Mr Goyaram’s riding record, which indicated 1 previous breach under the Careless Riding Rule in the last 12 months, namely Waverley on October 20th, where he received a 5-day suspension.

The Respondent has had 168 mounts in the past 12 months.   Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be in the low range, with Mr Davidson adding that Ms Hemi’s mount was battling at the time of the incident.

Mr Davidson further advised that Mr Goyaram was about to begin a suspension after racing today, which runs until November 5th.

Reasons for Penalty:

The Adjudicative Committee considered all submissions. It was determined that Mr Goyaram failed to ensure he was clear of the runners behind him before angling inward, thereby taking Ms Hemi’s rightful line. While it was noted that Ms Hemi’s horse may have been struggling at the time of the incident, the Adjudicative Committee emphasised that safety remains a priority, underscoring the importance of adherence to the Rules of being clear before crossing another Rider.

An aggravating factor in this case, was Mr Goyaram’s recent history, having been charged with careless riding only seven days prior. After considering all factors, the Adjudicative Committee deemed a 6-day suspension to be an appropriate penalty.

Conclusion:

Mr Goyaram’s Licence to ride in races is suspended for a period of 6 days, commencing after racing on November 5th and concluding after racing on Wednesday November 13th, 2024.