“Should the Starter consider that through any faulty of the Starting Gate or Starting Stall a fair start has not been effected, he shall declare it a ‘false start’ and order the riders, by means of a recall flag, to return to the starting post. The Starter’s decision on this point shall be final.” …Rule #47 of the JRC 1977 Racing Rules.

With reference to the fifth race on June 22, 2019, the filmed evidence demonstrated that a fair start “had not been effected” with gate seven clearly forced open before the others giving the Anthony Nunes-trained filly Splendid Vision a clear early advantage. The operation stewards erroneously held an unnecessary inquiry, obviously ignoring the directive of the rule which gives the Starter absolute discretion to deem what is or otherwise is a fair start. Incidentally, the event was won in convincing front-running style by Action Run which was bred in the USA by renowned track and field athletics coach, Glen Mills.

JRC Rule #53 in instructing the Judge states in part…“immediately after considering the photograph he shall determine the winner according to that part of the horse’s head, excluding the ears, which first reaches the perpendicular plane of the winning post provided that the complete body of the horse passes the winning post, with the rider in the saddle”.

The operation stewards may very well have been right in disqualifying Abogado from first past the post and awarding the afternoon’s sixth event to Aquilo. However, the film evidence may not have been conclusive in determining the rider was not in the saddle at the crucial time. The exception proviso cited in this rule is mystifying since it is the head first, as stated above, that determines winning, which renders the race effectively at an end at this point.

Other races on the card generated no talking points with Messi beating Kalahari by 15 lengths in the opener followed by Genuine Train‘s new-found form enabling a four-length triumph one race later.

Instagram posted a win by four lengths in the third to allow leading reinsman Christopher Mamdeen the opportunity for a double which he duly delivered with a superb ride on Stanley Findlay’s Rising Bop in the seventh.

Dee Danger made full use of the opportunity to demonstrate once again he is thoroughly game, genuine and consistent and gave apprentice Kiaman McGregor the chance for a double which materialised with an energetically athletic performance aboard Gary Subratie’s Uncle Vinnie in the penultimate event.

There was a welcome change of fortune for jockey Jemar Jackson who had his right arm badly damaged in a pre-race accident late last year and in addition was suspended by the Racing Commission’s First Instance Tribunal following an investigation into an altercation with a punter. Jackson held up Steven Todd’s free-scoring eight-year-old gelding Chief Prospect bidding for his 14th win from 43 starts before challenging for the lead 200 metres out and scoring by over five lengths.

In the closing event, defeat was highly unlikely for the Anthony Nunes-trained Latapy who was disqualified from first two outings ago. Linton Steadman, the most underrated of the competent riders, guided the strapping grey colt to a victory of over three lengths with the prospect of more to come.

Veteran trainer Stanley Findlay takes the Training Feat Award for presenting Rising Bop in such great shape and the Jockeyship Award to Mamdeen for his excellent rating of gelding over the 1600-metre trip. The Best Winning Gallop accolade goes to Action Run who was always clear in his first attempt at 1,400 metres.