Westport TC 26 December 2021 – R1 – NORDIC PRINCE

Summary of Facts:

Following the running of Race 1, the Applicant, Stipendiary Steward, Mr Williams filed an Information pursuant to Rule 870(3) instigating a protest alleging that NORDIC PRINCE broke in excess of 50m in the final 200m.

Prior to the commencement of the hearing the Respondent, Ms Thornley advised the Adjudicative Committee that the protest was uncontested and she sought to be excused from attending the hearing. The Adjudicative Committee excused the Respondent from attending the hearing.  The Information was endorsed accordingly.

The Judge’s provisional placings were:

1^st – No 5

2^nd – No 13

3^rd – No 7

4^th – No 6

5^th – No 14

Rule 870(3) provides that ‘Any horse which breaks from its gait shall promptly regain its proper gait’.

The Horse Breaking Regulations provide that:

(b) Any horse which breaks from its gait within the final 200 metres of any race and continues on in the break for a distance of 50 metres or greater, shall be deemed to be in breach of Rule 870(3) in that it has failed to promptly regain its proper gait.

Submissions for Decision:

Using available race films Stipendiary Steward, Mr Williams identified NORDIC PRINCE as the field passed the final 200 metre marker. He said the horse went off stride free of interference and galloped in excess of 100 metres and for the remainder of the race, crossing the finish line in 4th place.

Mr Williams submitted that NORDIC PRINCE was therefore in breach of the Rule 870(3) and Breaking Horse Regulations and should be disqualified from the race.

Reasons For Decision:

After hearing submissions and reviewing the Race films it was clearly evident to the Adjudicative Committee that NORDIC PRINCE broke free of interference and galloped for more than 50 metres over the concluding stages of the race.

Accordingly, NORDIC PRINCE is in breach of r 870(3) and the relevant Breaking Horse Regulations.

Decision:

NORDIC PRINCE was disqualified.

The amended final placings are:

1^st – No 5

2^nd – No 13

3^rd – No 7

4^th – No 14

5^th – No 2

Authority was given for stake money and dividends to be paid in accordance with the amended placings.