Related Items
01 Jan 2021
Auckland-Rc -
R9
Related Decisions
-
26 Dec 2020
Auckland RC 26 December 2020 – R 7 – Chair, Mr G Jones -
19 Dec 2020
Waikato RC 19 December 2020 - R 8 - Chair, Mr BJ Scott -
26 Nov 2020
Levin RC 26 November 2020 - R 1 - Chair, Mr N McCutcheon
Auckland RC 1 January 2021 – R 9 – Chair, Mr G Jones
Created on 02 January 2021
Committee:
GJones (chair)BScott
Name(s):
Mr L Innes - Rider of PRETTY TO SEAMr M Williamson - Senior Stipendiary Steward
Informant
Mr J Oatham - Chief Stipendiary StewardInformation Number
A13444Plea:
AdmittedCharge:
Failed to make the contracted weightEvidence:
The Informant, Mr Oatham filed an Information pursuant to Rule 330(3)(c) alleging that Class A Rider, Mr Innes failed to make the contracted weight for his mount PRETTY TO SEA in Race 9, the Sistema Railway (Group 1 - $200,000).
Mr Innes was present at the hearing and confirmed his admission of the breach and he advised that he is familiar with the nature of the charge. The Information was endorsed to that effect.
Rule 330(3)(c) provides: “A rider shall not fail to ride a horse at the weight at which it is handicapped to carry”.
Mr Oatham advised that PRETTY TO SEA was handicapped to carry 53.5 kg. He said that 2 hours prior to the running of Race 9 Mr Innes advised Stewards that it was apparent to him that he would be unable to make the handicapped weight for PRETTY TO SEA. Mr Oatham noted that he had ridden at 54.5 kg in an earlier race.
Mr Oatham said that fortunately a suitable senior rider, Ms Allpress, was available as a replacement rider.
By way of explanation, Mr Innes said that he advised the connections of PRETTY TO SEA that he would be 1 kg overweight and that they were agreeable, but in the interests of all concerns he accepted that it would be better for the horse to race with its handicapped weight, as opposed to carrying an additional 1 kg and on that basis did not seek permission to ride overweight.
Decision:
As Mr Innes admitted the breach the Committee found the charge proved.
Submission For Penalty:
Mr Oatham said that this is Mr Innes’s second breach of the Rule within the last 12 month period. The first occurred on 26 December 2020 and resulted in a $300 fine. He said that a similar fine in this case would be appropriate as the circumstances are slightly different than the previous breach.
He said that although the race concerned was a Group 1, a very capable replacement rider (Ms Allpress) was available to take the mount. He added that Mr Innes made a genuine attempt to make his contracted weight.
Mr Innes agreed that a fine would be an appropriate penalty.
Reasons For Penalty:
Determination of penalties for a breach of this nature are fact dependant.
The Committee considered the submissions and for consistency took some guidance from previous penalties for similar breaches.
The Committee took into account the fact that although Mr Innes could not make his contracted weight a very capable replacement rider was available and on that basis the connections and public were not necessarily disadvantaged. We also take note that the breach related to a Group 1 race.
This same Committee dealt with Mr Innes’ previous breach on Boxing Day and the circumstances of this breach are slightly different. The Committee accepts that Mr Innes has made a genuine attempt to make the weight and although this does not excuse the breach, we accept his sincerity. In future we encourage Mr Innes not to accept mounts weighted less than what he knows is realistically achievable for him.
After weighing up all the factors we determined that a $350 was appropriate in the circumstances.
Penalty:
Mr Innes is fined $350.
