Whangarei RC 9 February 2022 – R1 – Sam Spratt

SUMMARY OF FACTS:

Following the running of Race 1, the Alibaba’s Flying Carpets 2 year old, Mr Williamson presented an Information charging Mrs Spratt, the Rider of DEPLOY, with  a breach of Rule 636(1)(d) in that she failed to ride her mount out to the end of the race when there was a reasonable chance of running fourth. It is a breach of the Rule if such failure occurs – where there is a “reasonable chance of [the horse] running into a position for which there is prize money to be awarded or a dividend to be declared”.

DECISION:

As the breach was admitted, it was deemed proved.

SUBMISSIONS FOR PENALTY:

Mrs Selvakumaran demonstrated from the race film that Mrs Spratt rode her mount DEPLOY with vigour when leading well into the home straight.  It was weakening when overtaken by the eventual three placed horses.  About 50 metres from the finish Mrs Spratt stopped her vigour and eased her riding style, and as a consequence, was beaten into 5th by a fast finishing horse TOTAL RECALL. The margin was a lead.

Mrs Spratt submitted that her horse was hanging in, and she was anxious to avoid hitting the running rail so she “stopped riding”.

Mr Williamson submitted that mitigating factors included that Mrs Spratt had only been back riding for 3 days, had a good record for breaching this Rule, and had not attempted to challenge the charge.  It was noted that the difference in prize money was only $360, but punters who had wagered on the “first four” (DEPLOY was second favourite) lost out.

Mrs Spratt accepted that a suspension had to follow given the Penalty Guide of a starting point of 2 weeks.  She queried why this should not be expressed in terms of “days” and was told the Penalty Guide to Adjudicative Committees refers to “days” only for offences of careless riding, breach of the Whip Rules, although it always remains within an Adjudicative Committee’s discretion to fix a penalty, in some circumstances, in a term other than calendar weeks or months, but that should be uncommon.

Mrs Spratt has riding engagements in this next week.

REASONS FOR PENALTY:

After considering the evidence from all parties, the Adjudicative Committee determined that a suspension would be the appropriate penalty in this case.

CONCLUSION:

Accordingly, Mrs Spratt is suspended for 2 weeks, to commence at the conclusion of racing on 16 February 2022 and, to end at the conclusion of racing on 2 March 2022.