The 2nd placed horse in this race at Riccarton last week was in the black and white, and the 3rd placed horse on its inside in the red.
The rider of the red horse protested against the one in the black.
It was upheld.
I don’t reckon it should have been.
What do you think?
Submissions For Decision
Prior to hearing submissions from the respective parties, the Adjudicative Committee requested that Stewards show all available race films of the alleged interference and identify the runners. This showed SHE’S RECOMMENDED shifting ground inwards making contact with and dictating O’JUDE in approximately 5 horse widths over the concluding stages.
The Applicant , Ms Comignaghi, Rider of O’JUDE, stated that she had received interference over the concluding 100m, was dictated inwards with contact being made on 3 occasions. She submitted that her mount was unbalanced by the interference suffered and this had affected her chances.
The Respondents concurred that there was movement inwards from SHE’S RECOMMENDED and contact made but that O’JUDE’s Rider had never stopped riding and the horse had every opportunity to improve past SHE’S RECOMMENDED over the concluding stages.
Stipendiary Steward Mr Oatham outlined the Stewards’ interpretation of the alleged interference stating that the inward movement of SHE’S RECOMMENDED caused a dictation inwards of approximately 5 horse widths. This he said denied O’JUDE the opportunity of racing in a true line to the finish giving it every opportunity to the line. Mr Oatham stated that contact was made on 3 occasions which clearly unbalanced O’JUDE to a degree affecting the horse’s chances. He added that the margin of 1/2 a head was another factor for the Adjudicative Committee to consider.
Reasons For Decision
In accordance with the requirements of the Protest Rule the Adjudicative Committee must firstly establish that interference occurred; and secondly, if interference is established, the horse interfered with would have beaten the other runner, had such interference not occurred.
After hearing submissions and reviewing the video footage the Adjudicative Committee established that SHE’S RECOMMENDED clearly shifted ground inwards for approximately 5 horse widths making contact and dictating O’JUDE inwards over the concluding stages. It was also clear that the contact made, although not forceful, was enough to unbalance O’JUDE to a degree, combined with the dictation inwards, and with the margin of 1/2 head, the Adjudicative Committee was satisfied that but for such interference O’JUDE would have finished ahead of SHE’S RECOMMENDED without the interference received in the run to the post.
The Adjudicative Committee is satisfied that SHE’S RECOMMENDED did interfere with the chances of O’JUDE, and having considered the degree and nature of the interference, the way both horses finished the race off and the close margin of 1/2 head at the finish the Adjudicative Committee is of the opinion that, free of interference, O’JUDE would have beaten SHE’S RECOMMENDED.
On that basis the protest is upheld.