DIORE DERBY BLOW
THE controversial participation of no-hoper Diore Lia in Saturday’s Investec Derby appeared over after the BHA refused to allow the filly to be ridden by inexperienced apprentice gina Mangan.
The BHA said the decision had been taken on safety grounds and was a likely precursor to more formal rule changes to draw up minimum qualification requirements for both jockeys and horses after this year’s race.
The decision left Richard Aylward, Diore Lia’s owner and breeder, refusing to run his filly without Mangan on board.
The move marks a complete turnaround by the BHA, who at the weekend were not raising objections to the participation of the twiced-raced filly and her 25-year-old jockey, who had registered only one career win and never ridden at Epsom. Diore Lia had been moved to trainer John Jenkins by Aylward after her previous trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam had told him she did not believe the filly should run in the Derby.
Jamie Stier, chief regulatory officer for the British Horseracing Authority, said the BHA had told Jenkins they would be invoking Rule 83 which allowed them to not accept the declaration of Mangan.
Stier said: ‘Everyone involved in horseracing has a responsibility to place the welfare of our participants, both equine and human, first.
‘ While risk can never be removed entirely, it is possible to identify factors that can increase risk, and act on them.
‘While Miss Mangan has held her licence for a number of years, she remains inexperienced, with only 69 rides and one winner to her name. She has never ridden at Epsom and never ridden in a race on the scale and stage of the Derby.
‘We fully understand that this will be extremely disappointing for Miss Mangan, however, we believe that the decision is the correct one in the best interests of all concerned and the sport.’
No-hopers are not uncommon in the Derby and Aylward had claimed her run would raise money for the great Ormond Street Hospital charity.
However, the filly’s participation had become an unwelcome sideshow to our most prestigious Classic.
Mangan was unplaced on her one ride at Kempton last night and incurred a four-day careless riding ban.