Connections of Stay Alert have lodged an appeal against the result of Saturday's Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes, in which she took second after a messy finish behind two-length winner Via Sistina.
Trained by Hughie Morrison, Stay Alert, who was ridden by Ronan Whelan, had her progress checked when the George Boughey-trained Via Sistina, ridden by Jamie Spencer, hung right and hampered Rosscarbery, who then bumped into Stay Alert.
Spencer was suspended for six days for careless riding, but that is not the end of the matter.
Hughie Morrison Hughie Morrison: "It's been quoted to me by numerous people that it was a professional foul" Credit: Edward Whitaker Confirming the appeal, Morrison, who trains Stay Alert for Ben and Sir Martyn Arbib, said on Tuesday: "We were going as fast as the other horse [Via Sistina] at the time of the collision and weren't given a fair crack at it, which is a shame."
Morrison claimed his horse and Rosscarbery were "endangered" by the winner, adding: "If it's dangerous, they should lose the race. I wasn't there but connections felt justice wasn't done. There's a lot at stake and I feel, as a rule, that when interference takes place a horse being stopped is never taken into account.
"If a car went from 40mph to 35mph you'd lose more than two lengths in 20 metres and Ronan felt his chance was taken away too. How can they say the best horse won?
"It's been quoted to me by numerous people that it was a professional foul and, if justice is seen to be done, we'll get it on appeal."
'The horse went about a width and a half of a car right'
The stewards at the Curragh ruled that, "while Via Sistina had caused interference to Rosscarbery, she did not improve her finishing position as a result of this interference so they made no alteration to the judge's placings".
Morrison said: "The question the appeal board has to ask themselves is if the interference or collision endangered the other horses and jockeys.
"If that's a yes, then did he [Spencer] take corrective action when, as an experienced jockey, he could see it happening?
"They have to answer that question and, from what I could see, the horse went about a width and a half of a car right – off a straight line – and he didn't take any corrective action until after the collision took place."
The Pretty Polly was worth €300,000 with €177,000 going to the winner and Stay Alert collecting €57,000 for second.
Not sure rules need changing. It just needs the Stewards to throw one or two out which might not have lost by a very short margin.
In this case the best horse won. I have backed Stay Alert at a lower level several times, and the horse has disappointed. Perhaps Morrison can offer some explanation for the sudden improvement on those performances?
Not sure rules need changing. It just needs the Stewards to throw one or two out which might not have lost by a very short margin.In this case the best horse won. I have backed Stay Alert at a lower level several times, and the horse has disappointed
Can't steer. Look through the form book at Spencer's rides and the problem is not, as most punters believe, that he comes too late, it is that he can't steer.
Can't steer. Look through the form book at Spencer's rides and the problem is not, as most punters believe, that he comes too late, it is that he can't steer.
Again Rico he didnt do all he could, he doesnt keep whipping it with the whip, he gets both hands on the reins to straighten it up, its straightforward. I still believe the best horse won. If you watch the finish on youtube his reactions to what happens are shocking and it can be argued he was more than careless. Rules mention basically what a competent jockey should do, in all honesty I think he was well outside of it and at a minimum borderline.
He pulls the horse out and it **** its head to the left slightly, Jamie goes for it and the horse starts to run straight then move right. It took him 3-4 secs of the horse moving right to pick his whip up and then when it hangs into the whip pretty violently it took Jamie 5 secs to put the whip down and get both hands on the reins to straighten it. Is that careless or plain incompetent
As I say the rule book mentions does he ride outside what a competent jockey would do, imo hes close to it if not over it.
Doubt the stewards want to tell someone like Jamie it was borderline incompetent
Again Rico he didnt do all he could, he doesnt keep whipping it with the whip, he gets both hands on the reins to straighten it up, its straightforward.I still believe the best horse won.If you watch the finish on youtube his reactions to what happen
cant steer? it was lugging right and he gave it a slap down the left shoulder and it went further right.
He never touched the horse on the left shoulder with the whip it was always in his right hand
cant steer? it was lugging right and he gave it a slap down the left shoulder and it went further right.He never touched the horse on the left shoulder with the whip it was always in his right hand
I would go as far as also saying a senior jockey being cut up by an amateur jockey in the same manner would be calling him words equivalent to incompetent
I would go as far as also saying a senior jockey being cut up by an amateur jockey in the same manner would be calling him words equivalent to incompetent
Is it reasonable that a senior jockey takes 5 secs to put his whip down and get both hands on the reins to straighten his mount when the horse is hanging into both the whip and its rivals in a manner that could endanger other horses and jockeys. If it is then fine its careless, if not and he should do it a lot sooner then its more serious than just careless imo
I think the only thing they should look at is Is it reasonable that a senior jockey takes 5 secs to put his whip down and get both hands on the reins to straighten his mount when the horse is hanging into both the whip and its rivals in a manner that
thurnscoe thunder 04 Jul 23 20:22 cant steer? it was lugging right and he gave it a slap down the left shoulder and it went further right.
He never touched the horse on the left shoulder with the whip it was always in his right hand
i meant if watching the hd on (left shoulder) or off fore shoulder.
thurnscoe thunder 04 Jul 23 20:22 cant steer? it was lugging right and he gave it a slap down the left shoulder and it went further right.He never touched the horse on the left shoulder with the whip it was always in his right handi meant if watchin
1. What should/could Spencer have done that the stewards say he didn't do to correct the horse?
(Please be specific).
2. If he had done so what affect would/could that have on the horse's momentum?
Please, replies from experienced horsemen/women only. Thanks.
Questions for any experienced horseman on here:1. What should/could Spencer have done that the stewards say he didn't do to correct the horse?(Please be specific).2. If he had done so what affect would/could that have on the horse's momentum?
Jock knows it works in their favour if they deliberately, or otherwise, impede a rival they are very unlikely to get chucked out unless the margin is very close.
Can they make it look like they are trying to correct said horse when in fact they are doing very little. Of course they can.
The only way to clamp down is to throw more of them out.
The problem is the interpretation of the rules.Jock knows it works in their favour if they deliberately, or otherwise, impede a rival they are very unlikely to get chucked out unless the margin is very close.Can they make it look like they are trying
1. Dangerous riding A Rider is guilty of dangerous riding if they cause serious interference by: (a) purposely interfering with another Horse or Rider or (b) riding in a way which is far below that of a competent and careful Rider and where it would be obvious to such a competent and careful Rider that riding in that way was likely to endanger the safety of another Horse or Rider.
2. Careless riding A Rider is guilty of careless riding if they fail to take reasonable steps to avoid causing interference or cause interference by inattention or misjudgement.
In a nutshell, the stewards found Spencer guilty of careless riding but Morrison thinks it was dangerous riding.
It matters because dangerous riding involves disqualifying the winner and handing the race to Morrison's runner, who came second on the day.
Note that in the report in the top post, Morrison talks about a professional foul. This implies Spencer's actions (or lack of them) were deliberate, and thus would be classed as dangerous riding.
Here is an extract from Ireland's Rule 214:-1. Dangerous riding A Rider is guilty of dangerous riding if they cause serious interference by: (a) purposely interfering with another Horse or Rider or (b) riding in a way which is far below
Most of Via Sistina's deviation and shift rightwards occurs before the actual incident , look at the cut marks on the grass , and yes rt handed smack from jockey . No kin chance of overturn .
Most of Via Sistina's deviation and shift rightwards occurs before the actual incident , look at the cut marks on the grass , and yes rt handed smack from jockey . No kin chance of overturn .