Thoroughbred Stewards Inquiry SETTLERS CREEK
13 August, 2018
Thoroughbred
Stewards today completed the adjourned inquiry into jockey Troy Turner’s handling of SETTLERS CREEK through the early stages of Race 7 at Belmont, Saturday 28 July 2018, the Budget Car & Truck Rental Handicap (1300m).
The inquiry was opened following the running of the race with evidence taken from jockey Mr Turner and managing part-owner and trainer of SETTLERS CREEK Mr Colin Webster. The matter was initially adjourned by the stewards to review its past performances.
The inquiry then resumed on Tuesday 31 July, 2018 where further evidence was taken from Mr Turner and he was subsequently charged under the provisions of ARR 135 (b) for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure SETTLERS CREEK was given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field.
The particulars of the charge being; after SETTLERS CREEK commenced very well Mr Turner restrained the gelding in the early stages of the race with it eventually settling into last position.
Mr Turner pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted an adjournment to present further evidence and have all of the connections of SETTLERS CREEK attend the inquiry.
At the resumption of the inquiry on Friday August 10, further evidence was taken from Mr Turner, Mr Webster and each of the owners with Mr Turner explaining that he was instructed to allow SETTLERS CREEK to settle and obtain cover as the horse was resuming from a spell.
When racing first up in its previous preparation, SETTLERS CREEK had over-raced and failed to settle, consequently tiring in the straight. Due to this Mr. Turner was conscious of the need to have it relax and settle so it was better able to finish the race off.
He further added that he did not allow SETTLERS CREEK to stride forward shortly after the start to ensure it settled and to gain cover, and therefore did not urge the horse forward to avoid it from being positioned on the pace and over-racing which would have been contrary to his instructions as such a tactic would have been detrimental to its performance and finishing position, in his opinion.
Mr Turner also explained that he had anticipated SEEKER (J. Whiting) shifting to the rail in the early stages, however that gelding held its one wide position and he was then obliged to race in a three wide position without cover.
Shortly after this, SWIFT SIS (J. Turner) shifted inwards causing SETTLERS CREEK to race in restricted room and when SEEKER shifted outwards to obtain a trailing position behind OUR FINEST MOMENT (B. Kirby) he was then unable to improve forward at that stage.
As SETTLERS CREEK commenced to travel strongly Mr Turner was then obliged to continue to restrain his mount to find cover resulting in him racing further back in the field than he had anticipated.
Mr Turner also added that SETTLERS CREEK lay inwards under pressure in the straight when having peaked on its run over the final stages of the event.
The riding instructions issued were confirmed by Mr Webster who advised that SETTLERS CREEK was unsuited to racing on the pace when resuming from a spell, as demonstrated at its prior preparation and for this reason he instructed Mr Turner to have the gelding settle and position it with cover to maximise its winning prospects.
The owners of SETTLERS CREEK also confirmed they were fully satisfied with Mr Turner’s riding, and also advised they had varying levels of investment on SETTLERS CREEK to win the race. The race replay from its first up run at its prior preparation was viewed and it was confirmed that SETTLERS CREEK had raced in a prominent position and had a tendency to race keenly and compounded in the straight.
After considering the explanation put forward by Mr Turner for the tactics he adopted and assessing the entirety of the evidence including the race patrol vision, stewards were of the opinion that Mr Turner had erred in restraining SETTLERS CREEK, rather than allowing the gelding to stride along after it had commenced very well and attempted to obtain a closer position in the field in the early stages.
However, in all of the circumstances the stewards were not entirely satisfied that his error was such that it met the requisite standard, in terms of being culpable and blameworthy to the degree required, to find him guilty of the charge under AR.135(b) which requires a rider to take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout a race to ensure his mount is given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field.
Mr Turner was advised that as a senior and experienced rider he is expected to demonstrate much greater initiative in future and not leave himself open to question which may result in further action being taken against him.