Stewards Inquiry

OFF THE HOOK FOR FISH

Senior Jockey Jason Whiting escaped with a reprimand from stewards following an inquiry into his performance on Bravo Romeo, at Belmont on June 13.

In that race the Paula Wagg trained galloper finished 10^th behind form galloper Savanarola.

Resuming at Ascot, on June 29th, Stewards said they had investigated betting transactions and were satisfied that following an investigation into a UK internet bettor, whose account history followed a regular pattern of backing horses not to run a place, there were no irregularities.

The reason for this investigation was because Bravo Romeo was $12 for a win and was paying a generous $7.20 for a place. Stewards also looked at local betting on Bravo Romeo and were satisfied that the galloper had been supported by the connections.

Chief Steward, Brad Lewis, then pressed Whiting on why he had stayed on the heels of the horse in front of him instead of switching to the inside of Jarrad Noske’s horse, Friarpak, earlier.

Under Australian Rules of Racing 135(b) a rider must take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure that his horse is given all possible chances to win or obtain the best possible place.

Whiting said he did not wait too long as Noske’s mount rolled back in “and made it tight and I didn’t think there was an opportunity on the inside.”

Steward Paul Criddle asked Ms Wagg, as the trainer what her instructions were to Whiting. “As an ex-jockey I do not give many to my riders. Essentially, in running, I wanted Bravo Romeo neither too close to the lead or too far back. It was his first time over this ground (2000m). I also told Jason he sometimes rolls in.”

Wagg said she didn’t expect him to win but anticipated he would run a place.

The Chief Steward continued to press Whiting on why it took 12 strides for the jockey to move Bravo Romeo through the gap presented between Paseo Del Prado and Friarpak.

Paula Wagg, interjecting, said with hindsight that maybe the jockey took too long, “but that happens all the time in races.”

Whiting, who was riding Bravo Romeo for the first time, replied that it was not always easy to balance a horse and to get momentum going. “The horse was not quick enough to get up there and it is not always easy to change direction- a lot of horses can’t do that.”

Paul Criddle asked whether Whiting was unaware of the inside run presented when Peter Hall, on Raising Dubai, shifted to the outside.

Whiting replied: “It took a couple of strides and then I shifted but it took the horse a while to get up momentum. I thought Peter would take it. If you look at his recent form he loves the inside run.”

Wagg: “Jason thought they weren’t going to move.”

Lewis: “We are talking about a fair period of time.”

After deliberating the Chief Steward summed up that during the race Whiting had followed behind Hall’s mount, until he moved out at the 600m mark, then later behind Noske’s horse from the 300m mark, before moving inwards in the home straight.

Mr Lewis said the stewards had to decide whether that move was delayed excessively.

Essentially for some 12 strides Whiting did not take advantage of a gap that had appeared for him. For the first six of those strides stewards accepted he was too close to heels to change direction but argued that he was slow making the change of line thereafter, something the jockey defended.

The Chief Steward told Whiting that although there was an error of judgment on his part it was not to the extent that warranted a penalty under ARR 135(b).

 “However, we expect a higher quality from you in future,” Mr Lewis concluded.