Weight revamp upsets jockeys
THE Australian Jockeys Association is concerned the sport’s integrity could be compromised after Racing Victoria secured discretionary powers not to raise weights at final acceptances for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.
Under new rules, Principal Racing Authorities such as RV have the option of maintaining original weights even if the topweight has less than 57kg at acceptance in Group 1 races.
In the past, weights were automatically raised to ensure there was a 57kg topweight.
AJA chief executive Paul Innes has condemned the proposal, fearing champion jockeys such as Hugh Bowman, Damien Oliver and Ty Angland will be adversely affected.
And he has flagged integrity issues as the AJA prepares to make formal submissions opposing the change.
In a letter to Racing Australia’s Barry O’Farrell, Innes raised a series of issues, including integrity.
“For example, a trainer who has five top-rated horses nominates all five with the intent of only starting the lowest-rated of the five,” Innes wrote.
“The top-rated horse is allocated 58kg; the fifth-rated horse is allocated 54kg.
“Currently, if the horse allocated 54kg is the top-weighted horse at final acceptances, weights would be raised so that the topweight carries not less than 57kg.
“Under the proposed amendment, it openly invites the manipulation of the handicap whereby the only horse the trainer ever intended to run of the five nominated horses carries 54kg on a compressed weight scale, thus giving it a significant advantage under the weight scale.
Innes said the amendment could “rule out many of Australia’s and the world’s leading riders from our feature races.
The AJA said “the timing of the proposed amendment is completely unacceptable”.
It is also suspicious of how widely the rule change might be applied. At this stage, only the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups would be affected.
“We request that the proposed amendment to AR 103 (2) be put aside until all matters flowing from it are fully considered,” Innes said.
“If that means that the proposed amendment is not in place for this year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, or if it means the proposed amendment is set aside permanently, then so be it.”