Whangarei RC 14 December 2022 – R7 – Tegan Newman

Evidence:

This charge arises from the running of Race 7, the Lion Red 1200m. Stipendiary Steward, Mr Dooley filed an Information pursuant to Rule 638(1)(d) alleging the Rider of SUPER TIME (T Newman), “allowed her mount to shift in when insufficiently clear of JOHNNIE KASTLE (T Mitchell) which was checked passing the 350 metres”.

Ms Newman acknowledged she understood the Rule and confirmed her 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 Stipendiary Steward Mr Simpson demonstrated the incident and identified the horses and Riders concerned; namely SUPER TIME (T Newman).

Mr Simpson told the Adjudicative Committee that approaching the 350-metre mark, SUPER TIME was racing on the outer and slightly ahead of JOHNNIE KASTLE, who was racing near the running rail. He said that Ms Newman shifted inward, “quite abruptly” into the line of JOHNNIE KASTLE who was checked.

Ms Newman said that she had ridden her mount previously in trackwork and trials and was aware it tended to be “reactive.”  She said rounding the home turn, it tried to run off slightly, so she changed her whip hand to correct this.  She added that further into the home straight nearing to 350 to 300 metres, she dropped her left rein and as a result, her mount ran inwards onto Ms Mitchell’s mount.

Decision:

As Ms Newman admitted the breach, the Adjudicative Committee found the charge proved.

Submission for Penalty:

Mr Dooley submitted that Ms Newman’s riding record is good having had two previous breaches under the Careless Riding Rule in the last 12 months from 413 rides. Her most recent breach was on 28 August 2022 at Matamata and resulted in a 4-day suspension. The other was on 18 December 2022 at Manawatu and resulted in a 4-day suspension.

Mr Dooley said Stewards assessed the level of carelessness to be low to mid-range.

Reasons for Penalty:

After considering the submissions and reviewing the race film, the Adjudicative Committee determined Ms Newman’s carelessness to be low to mid-range and adopted a 6-day (suspension) as the starting point.

The available films clearly established that Ms Newman allowed her mount to shift inward when less than one length clear of JOHNNIE KASTLE.  The well-established ‘required distance’ Rule of practice is a Rider’s own length and one other.  The inward shift was quite abrupt.  Ms Mitchell had to take a firm hold of her mount who lost momentum. It is unclear whether this had an impact on that runner’s final result as from that point, it did not make up any ground over the concluding stages of the race.

From the 6-day starting point, a one-day reduction is applied for Ms Newman’s admission of the breach and her good riding record. It is of note that one of her two previous breaches expires in four days (on 18 December 2022).  On that basis, the Adjudicative Committee deemed 5 (national) days to be an appropriate penalty.

Ms Newman sought guidance from the Adjudicative Committee as to whether she could be released from her two declared riding engagements at Te Rapa on 17 December 2020, to enable her to start her suspension immediately and take rides at the Boxing Day meeting on 26 December 2022.  Mr Dooley submitted that it is the Stewards’ position she must fulfil her future declared riding engagements.

The Adjudicative Committee is not empowered to approve a release of a Rider from their declared engagements.  In fact, a Rider who wilfully or without excuse breaks an engagement is in breach of Rule 330(3)(a) and is liable to a $200 fine. On that basis, Ms Newman sought a deferment to any proposed suspension until after racing on 17 December 2022.

Conclusion:

The Adjudicative Committee granted Ms Newman a deferment to her suspension.

Accordingly, her license to ride in races is suspended for a period of 5 days, commencing after racing on 17 December 2022 and concluding after racing on 26 December 2022.