Winton HRC 30 June 2023 – R5 – VELOCITY JET

Mr Munro, Stipendiary Steward, sought the disqualification of VELOCITY JET on the ground that the horse had broken in excess of 150 metres during the course of the running of Race 5.

The Judge’s placings were:

1st       RUBY SEDDON

2nd      VELOCITY JET

3rd       GALLEONS FUTURE

4th       DEM BONES DEM BONES

Mr Munro demonstrated that VELOCITY JET had broken from its gait on the first bend and had galloped for some 200 metres. The horse did not gain ground while in a gallop.

Mr Gray believed that VELOCITY JET had not galloped of its own accord.

The relevant provision is the Breaking Horse Regulations. Paragraph (a) states: “Any horse which breaks from its gait either at the start or during the running of any race and continues on in the break for a distance of 150 metres or greater, shall be deemed to be in breach of r 870(3) in that it has failed to promptly regain its proper gait…. Provided that where such first mentioned horse is not in the correct gait as a result of interference to such horse or its driver, then [subject to Rule 869A] such relegation or disqualification of the horse shall be at the discretion of the Adjudicative Committee.”

The Adjudicative Committee viewed the video angles. These were far from conclusive as the best angle cut away from the incident at the vital time. However, it appeared that the Driver of COOL PHELAN, when taking hold of his horse some time after RUBY SEDDON had galloped, had shifted out half a cart width when COOL PHELAN itself galloped. VELOCITY JET, which was racing one out, outside COOL PHELAN, received pressure from its inside, and was placed in restricted room. VELOCITY JET then galloped.

While VELOCITY JET galloped for more than 150 metres, it did not gain ground. The Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that the horse was not in its correct gait as a result of interference.

In these circumstances, the protest is dismissed and the placings are as called by the Judge.