News & Media

17 October 2007 Stewards' Inquiry - Thoroughbreds

RWWA Stewards today further questioned Jockeys’ L. Robertson (DR BELLA), J. Whiting (CARIBBEAN LADY), J. Berry (GIHO), P. Harvey (ROSENDO), L. Camilleri (SHARP AND SASSY) and Apprentice A. Kennedy (CALL ME DEE JAY) in relation to the riding and handling of their mounts in Race 6, the Orange Royale Handicap over 1600m run at Belmont Park on Wednesday, 10 October 2007.

During the Inquiry it was established that WINNING SCENE (J. Hill) was ridden forward by its rider from the barrier and was able to attain the lead without challenge and lead MEDICO MISS by approximately 6 to 7 lengths with a similar distance to GIHO and CALL ME DEE JAY in the middle stages. GIHO (J. Berry) was also urged along from the barrier, however Jockey Berry explained that the gelding had over-raced in the first 100 metres and he therefore elected to steady the gelding and allow it to settle and race behind MEDICO MISS (P. Knuckey). Mr Berry advised that he became concerned that his mount was racing at least 6 lengths behind MEDICO MISS at the 1000m and he commenced to ride GIHO along prior to the 750m but it was unable to make ground and had tired over the final 200m.

Jockey Knuckey explained that he was instructed to settle MEDICO MISS in a mid-field position, however the mare commenced very well and as the majority of other runners did not display early pace he allowed the mare to stride forward and race several lengths behind WINNING SCENE in the first 200m. He further stated that WINNING SCENE, although increasing its leading margin in the back straight, appeared to be racing keenly and was of the opinion that it would not maintain the same pace. He further stated that he became concerned that MEDICO MISS may have difficulty in making ground on WINNING SCENE when that gelding maintained its considerable leading margin passing the 800m and he therefore proceeded to urge MEDICO MISS forward from the 700m, but was also conscious of the need to moderate his vigour so that the mare could be left with a finishing sprint, which he felt was his best option of beating WINNING SCENE.

Apprentice Kennedy advised that he had attempted to urge CALL ME DEE JAY forward from the 800m, however the gelding did not respond as well as expected and was only able to maintain its position throughout the race. Jockey Whiting stated that CARIBBEAN LADY never travelled well throughout the race and was under pressure before straightening. Jockey L. Camilleri explained that his mount SHARP AND SASSY was following CARIBBEAN LADY and as that mare appeared to be under pressure he shifted his mount to a three-wide position near the 700m. He also advised that moving his mount outwards and going forward without cover before the 800m would have been detrimental to the mare’s overall performance. Jockey P. Harvey stated that he elected to position ROSENDO back in the field from its wide barrier in an attempt to give his mount cover but he could not achieve this and the mare was obliged to race wide throughout. He also stated that he had ridden the mare forward from the 600m but it failed to make any ground and tired to finish in last position. Jockey L. Robertson explained that he was instructed to settle DR BELLA in a rearward position and obtain cover. He also advised that he was following ROSENDO during the race and when that mare did not improve its position in the middle stages he took his mount outwards from the 700m. He further advised that although he recognised that DR BELLA was a considerable distance behind WINNING SCENE at the 1200m, he felt that riding his mount forward in a three-wide position without cover, at this stage of its preparation, would have adversely impacted upon its performance. The remaining riders all advised that given the position of their mounts in running they could not improve their positions earlier.

The time recorded by WINNING SCENE of 59.13 for the first 1000m was approximately 20 lengths faster than the average for races over the same distance at Belmont Park. Apprentice Hill advised that when she had ridden the gelding at its most recent start at Belmont Park on 22 September 2007 over 1600m it had over-raced and lay inwards and she consequently restrained it in the early and middle stages and as a result it did not settle and that this had affected its performance. Because of its difficult racing manner at its previous start she had allowed the gelding to stride freely which had better suited it as it had been able to relax and travel comfortably throughout the race. Trainer Mr J. Taylor advised that WINNING SCENE has won previously when allowed to stride forward unrestrained and establish a significant leading margin on other runners as the gelding has the ability to maintain a solid pace throughout its races.

In conjunction with the Betting Supervisor, Mr Travis Rendell, Stewards also examined totalisator and bookmaker betting transactions and found no irregularities in betting patterns on this race.

Given the circumstances of the race were exceptional in that the pace set by WINNING SCENE for the first 1000m was over three seconds faster than the average, Stewards accepted that an attempt to make ground before the 1000m may have been detrimental to the performance of their mounts. Further, Stewards were of the opinion that riders held a reasonable belief in assuming that WINNING SCENE was unlikely to continue to maintain its leading margin from the 600m and as such they did not ride their mounts vigorously before the 1000m.

In all of the circumstances, Stewards took no action in terms of the rules; however each of the riders present today were told that they should have displayed more initiative, enterprise, and judgement so as to reduce the considerable distance between their mounts and Winning Scene from the 800m.

BRAD LEWIS
Chief Steward Thoroughbreds

For more information contact:

Racing and Wagering Western Australia
Stewards Department
70 Grandstand Road
ASCOT WA 6104
Ph: (08) 9277 0777