Stewards Report - Royal Randwick Race 4

Published: 12 Jul 2014

The full stewards report from Race 4 at Royal Randwick yesterday.

RACE 4: TAB Rewards Handicap 2000m:

Reigning and Saigon Tea were slow to begin. Reigning was inclined to overrace in the early stages, resulting in its rider, App. R Hutchings, allowing the gelding to stride forward in the middle stages. Making the first turn Specific Choice, which was inclined to overrace, got its head up and shifted out, resulting in Reigning being taken wider. App. Y Ichikawa, rider of Done Nothin’ Wrong, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless riding in that near the 300m, after Saigon Tea had obtained clear running to his inside, he allowed his mount to shift in whilst riding it along when not clear of Saigon Tea, resulting in Saigon Tea losing its running and having to be steadied. App. Ichikawa’s permit to ride in races was suspended for a period to commence on Thursday, 17 July 2014 and to expire on Friday, 27 July 2014, on which day he may ride. When questioned concerning the tactics adopted on 3rd placegetter, Done Nothin’ Wrong, App. Y Ichikawa confirmed his instructions had been to endeavour to lead on the gelding. He added, after commencing well and obtaining the lead, when Jarilee improved to his outside in the early stages, he elected to allow that runner to cross, rather than attempt to hold his position in front and, as a consequence, he settled in a trailing position behind Jarilee. Trainer Mr C Waller confirmed the instructions issued to App. Ichikawa and expressed his dissatisfaction with the ride, particularly as his instructions were not followed.. Stewards advised App. Ichikawa, bearing in mind the instructions issued, he had erred in not making sufficient effort in the early stages to hold his position in front. App. Ichikawa, under the provisions of AR92A, was referred back to the Riding Skills Panel for remedial training. When questioned regarding his riding of Saigon Tea, J Collett confirmed that, as notified to the Stewards, his instructions were to be in a more forward position today and he anticipated racing midfield. He stated, after commencing relatively well, when runners to his outside, which he did not expect to go forward, went forward, his mount was positioned towards the rear of the field and, when then caught wide, he was obliged to allow Saigon Tea to settle towards the rear of the field so as not to be caught wider. J Collett added Saigon Tea travelled well throughout the early and middle stages of the event. When questioned regarding his riding between the 800m and the 600m and as to whether there was an opportunity to improve to the inside of Planetarium sooner than he did, J Collett stated that, although Planetarium was racing slightly off the fence, in his opinion, there was not sufficient room to improve until Planetarium shifted off near the 600m. He added, as soon as Planetarium shifted off, he improved to the inside of that runner and then approaching the 300m, after obtaining a run to the inside of Done Nothin’ Wrong, he was obliged to steady his mount when Done Nothin’ Wrong shifted back in. J Collett stated he was then obliged to shift out across the heels of Done Nothin’ Wrong to find clear running and, as he was positioned close to the heels of that runner, he elected to shift out across the heels of Jarilee, in order to ensure that he was able to obtain clear running. When questioned as to whether there was an opportunity to improve between Done Nothin’ Wrong and Jarilee when he shifted to the outside, J Collett stated that, in his view, when positioned close too the heels of Done Nothin’ Wrong, there was not a clear run for him to do so and, as a consequence, he felt he would have risked being held up further if he did so. He further added, after obtaining clear running to the outside of Jarilee near the 150m, his mount ran on solidly. Trainer Mr C Waller confirmed the instructions issued in that he had instructed J Collett to be more forward if circumstances permitted. He expressed satisfaction with the ride of J Collett, particularly his riding from the 600m, where he had endeavoured to save ground to improve into the race. Whilst the Stewards accepted J Collett’s explanations in respect to his riding in the early stages and approaching the 600m, he was advised that, in the opinion of the Stewards, he had erred in not attempting to improve between Done Nothin’ Wrong and Jarilee when there was a run available for him to take and that he should ensure that he rides his mounts so that he takes the first available opportunity for him to improve to ensure his mounts have the full opportunity to win. When questioned, trainer Mr C Waller, stated that the main explanation he could offer in respect to the improved performance of Specific Choice was that the gelding was stepping up to a more suitable distance today and settled in the run, which allowed it to finish off the race strongly.