Ganderton charge upheld
PETER STAPLES
TASMANIAN Hall of Fame trainer Bill Ryan’s appeal against the severity of penalty over a charge of improper conduct involving jockey Daniel Ganderton has been upheld by the Tasmanian Racing Appeals Board.
Ryan was fined $5000 by stewards for his involvement in a physical altercation with Ganderton at a race meeting in Launceston on January 15.
It was alleged Ryan became aggressive when Ganderton approached him outside the stewards’ room uttering words that Ryan found offensive and that led to them engaging in physical contact.
As other trainers grappled to separate the trainer and rider it was alleged Ryan grasped the rider by the throat and both uttered what seemed to be threatening comments towards each other.
At a subsequent stewards’ inquiry, Ganderton was fined $500 for his part in the fracas but Ryan was fined $5000.
Ryan’s appeal against the severity was heard in Hobart last Thursday week after which the TRAB reserved its decision and after consideration reduced the fine to a more reasonable $1000. “I am pleased the penalty was reduced substantially but I probably should never have engaged in the conversation with the rider,” Ryan said.
“I was brought up to protect your honour at all costs, so when he (Ganderton) grabbed my throat it was just instinctive for me to react the way I did.”
THE Tasmanian Turf Club boasts a nine-race card tomorrow night with a benchmark 84 handicap over 2150 metres one of the features that will act as a warm-up for the St Leger (2400m) to be run in Launceston on Good Friday (April 10).
Most of the eight runners in tomorrow night’s race are heading to the St Leger with
White Hawk a surprise acceptor given he ran at Caulfield last Saturday.
White Hawk scored a game win over Settler’s Stone in Launceston three starts back and followed up with a slightly disappointing effort in the Launceston Cup.
The Angela Brakeytrained gelding was a victim of circumstances at Caulfield on Saturday where he was held up on the rails off a very slowly run race and when the leaders sprinted, he was left flat-footed.
“Nothing worked out as we planned at Caulfield and after the race he appeared as if he hadn’t gone around,” Brakey said.
“He’s pulled up in fantastic order and travelled home really well.
“So he will go around on Wednesday night and be very hard to beat.”
Our Declaration is a laststart winner over the trip and Brilliant Jet should be ready to show up over the trip, so they loom as the main dangers to White Hawk.
MYSTIC JOURNEY will have a gallop at Spreyton this morning that will determine whether she lines up in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes over 1200m at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
The Adam trinder-0trained mare hasn’t started since finishing fifth in the Cox Plate at the Valley in October last year.
A satisfactory gallop will result in her tackling the William Reid but if the workout isn’t what Trinder is seeking then she will either head to South Australia for one or two starts next month or return to the spelling paddock and be prepared for a Spring campaign.