December 21, 2014
by Ross Stanley
In a mixed but novel day, Carl Spry landed a rare double at Darwin’s Fannie Bay racecourse last Saturday.
The ex-Burnett boy booted home the bookends on the four race card while his other partners both suffered physical problems in transit.
He saluted comfortably on Kerry Petrick’s charge Kayno ($2.25) in the RGM Class 4 Handicap.
Next up, the More Than Ready four-year-old’s stablemate Urgent Bells ($1.50) bled from both nostrils when beaten 22 lengths in the Crocosaurus (BM 75) Handicap.
There was more misfortune in the NT News Handicap when Spry’s first crack at the dual jockey-trainer caper saw Swanky Beau, after sustaining an injury to the near fore tendon, finish second last.
But it was all smiles in the finale when Nervous ($6.50) accounted for his maiden rivals by four and a half lengths.
The stewards panel, headed by former Queensland stipe David Hensler, reprimanded Carl for a breach of AR 137(c) for making a celebratory gesture prior to his mount passing the winning post.
In arriving at this decision stewards took into account that he had not previously offended under this rule during his riding career.
Spry, like his Gayndah based father Winston, had trained a winner.
The added excitement lay in the fact that the all female syndicate of owners was led by his partner and raceday helper Sarah Acornley, and that he had been the horse’s pilot and mentor.
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Fortunate Errors … For Some
If a mistake is made, it is best if it is not really costly.
Chris Waller’s recent $30,000 fine was softened firstly by the fact that he also prepared the eventual winner Opinion and the fifth placed Bagman.
Given that a trainer’s share of the first prize of a standard Saturday race in Sydney is $4,875, it won’t take Waller long to cover the forfeit.
It is not as easy for Junoob’s owners Richard Pegum and Garry and Marianne Towzell.
While the former has tasted international Group One success, his team-mates sold Just A Dash before he hit the big time.
The trio raced December Draw, a Turnbull stakes winner, who was twice a massive disappointment in the Caulfield Cup.
Whilst not suggesting that the owners of Junoob should or would take legal action, it is interesting to ponder the scenario.
The horse officially won The Metropolitan on his own merits.
If he lost the prize because of an internal stable error, can a claim of negligence be made in these situations?
Should compensation be payable?
How about the impact on the innocent jockey Blake Shinn?
One item of nonsense that was floated about was that a disqualification for Waller rather than the fine would be a poor outcome for Sydney racing because of its reliance on that stable to prop up field numbers.
Bart Cummings was sidelined around 35 years ago and Mal Barnes simply took over the yard as an interim measure.
Alternatively, the horses are dispersed to other trainers.
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More Offences
Last Monday there was another swab related problem in Sydney (see the background information in last week’s column).
Below is the ensuing stewards report.
Licensed Trainer Clarry Conners Fined A Total Of $10,400Racing NSW Stewards today conducted an inquiry into the Analyst’s findings of the prohibited substance 3’-hydroxylignocaine, being detected in the urine sample taken from This Is Australia subsequent to that gelding winning Race 3 (Mossman @ Vinery Handicap) at Canterbury Park Racecourse on Wednesday, 3 September 2014. Evidence was taken from Clarry Conners, trainer of This Is Australia, Dale Harris foreperson for trainer Clarry Conners and Dr James Whitfield, Stable Veterinarian. Dr Craig Suann, Racing NSW Senior Official Veterinarian and John Keledjian, General Manager, Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory, assisted the inquiry. Dr Suann provided advice to the inquiry that 3’-hydroxylignocaine is a prohibited substance under the rules of racing. Mr Conners pleaded guilty to a charge under AR178 as the trainer of This Is Australia, of having brought that colt to the Canterbury Park Racecourse on Wednesday, 3 September 2014 to compete in Race 3 (Mossman @ Vinery Handicap) whereby a prohibited substance, namely 3’-hydroxylignocaine, was detected in a urine sample taken from that gelding subsequent to the race. In considering penalty, stewards took into account Mr Conners guilty plea, his co-operation with the inquiry and his record in relation to offences under AR178. In addition, stewards found Mr Conners stable’s husbandry in respect to the administration of topical substances was deficient. Mr Conners was fined $10,000. Mr Conners also pleaded guilty to a charge under AR178(F)(1) for failing to record complete treatment records for the period 22 August to 24 August 2014. Mr Conners was fined $400. Acting under the powers of AR177, This Is Australia was disqualified from its first placing in Race 3 – Mossman @ Vinery Handicap at Canterbury Park Racecourse on Wednesday, 3 September 2014 and the placings were amended to read:1-Avonaco, 2-Tarismo and 3-Magwitch. |
(Ironically, Chris Waller got more of his fine back as Avonaco is a member of his juggernaut.)
To demonstrate the complexities of drug cases in thoroughbred racing, a cross section of examples will be listed in a future column.
Seemingly there are two major schools of thought about the detection and handling of offences.
One view is quite tolerant.
It is based on the idea that there is only a low frequency of accidental mal-administration in generally law abiding operations, so there is nothing of major concern.
The other extreme is one of dismay about the increasing role of drugs in the industry and that the sophistication, cost and benefit of medications is giving a significant edge to some major players.
Heaven help the racehorses of 2025!
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Merry Christmas
I’d like to wish all my readers a Merry Christmas and a very happy, healthy and safe New Year.
Like most of you, I’ll be taking a brief break for the Festive Season.
But I plan to be back around mid-January for the Nanango New Year’s Races on Saturday, January 17, which will kick off another great year of racing on the region’s tracks.
Thank you for your tremendous support in 2014.
I look forward to seeing you again next year.
