Trainer challenges relegation after victory at Te Rapa
Cambridge trainer Ross McCarroll is irate that a print of the photo finish was used in an inquiry resulting in his horse being relegated at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The McCarroll-trained Calligraphy, ridden by Sam Weatherley, was first past the post but was relegated to second and Keely Be promoted to first in the day’s opening race.
Chief steward John Oatham alleged that Weatherley had allowed Calligraphy to veer out in the final stages and hinder Keely Bee, who went down in a headbobbing finish.
Oatham presented a photo finish print as evidence and the question was raised whether the official winning margin of a head was in fact less than that.
‘‘I thought it was very unfair,’’ McCarroll said. ‘‘I was very disappointed that the photo finish print was in possession of John Oatham.
‘‘In my opinion the margin was definitely a clear head and the photo should never have been presented as evidence. What was the point?’’
Oatham said photo finish prints had been presented at inquiries on previous occasions.
‘‘David Greene asked for the print to be produced,’’ Oatham said. ‘‘I don’t really think it had an affect on the outcome.’’
Keely Be is trained on the track by Waikato Racing Club director David Greene and raced by his Greene Thoroughbreds in partnership with Jack and Sue Thorburn.
McCarroll defended Weatherley in the inquiry with assistance from the apprentice’s employer, former champion jockey Lance O’Sullivan, but their submissions didn’t achieve the desired result..
Jockey Kelly McCullough submitted that Calligraphy had rolled out and ‘‘intimidated’’ Keely Be which was backed by Oatham, who pointed out that the outwards momentum had halted Keely Be’s momentum and made the difference. Weatherley was handed a five-day suspension, ruling him out from December 15 to 24 inclusive. McCarroll was still smarting 24 hours after the race and feeling aggrieved for his owners and jockey.
‘‘If I was Sam Weatherley I would be appealing the suspension,’’ he said. ‘‘A $20,000 race is big for these horse’s owners and they get treated like this.
‘‘I’ve always sent my best horses to Australia and decisions like this make me think I should send more over there. It’s the inconsistency of the judicial decisions that’s the problem.
‘‘To me it wasn’t enough to justify a relegation, Kelly McCulloch never stopped riding her horse and there’s no way the horse was halted, whereas Weatherley tried to straighten his horse.’’