Chief Stipe

So you've given up on your Head to Head argument?

You forgot the sarcasm font.

More innuendo, assertion and supposition. Where's the evidence? Who in NZ Thoroughbred Racing are doing it?

Feature The story behind the $71 into $5 betting plunge that struck gold Plunge horse Tidal Rush. Photo: Cavanough Racing. By Clinton Payne 11:23pm • 28 November 2021 Comments Scone trainer Brett Cavanough didn’t hold any real hope for the future of Tidal Rush but the horse will forever be the centre of one of Australian racing’s great betting stories. It’s a rare occurrence in the modern day that a trainer and connections put one over the satchel swingers but Cavanough and the owners of Tidal Rush did just that at Dubbo on November 14. As a youngster, Tidal Rush found himself at the Rosehill stables of Hawkes Racing before they sacked the son of Headwater. His only public appearance in Sydney saw the gelding beaten over 12 lengths in a Canterbury barrier trial. After a short break, Tidal Rush then found himself heading to Cavanough’s Scone stables with a ‘see what happens’ tag. “How it all unravelled was amazing, it all happened at a million miles an hour,” Cavanough said. “I gave him about 11 weeks work and sent him off to the trials at Muswellbrook.” Ten horses contested that Muswellbrook 1000m barrier trial, after the last following their October 18 race meeting and it’s fair to say the future looked pretty bleak for Tidal Rush. He finished 12-3/4 lengths behind the winner of the heat, handy country galloper Time For Victory, but he was also five lengths behind the second last finisher. Brett Cavanough. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images. “I said to (jockey) Ash Morgan, “I think this is slow”,” Cavanough said. “Ash come back and he goes, “cantering to the gates I thought you were taking the p*&#, it’s the best actioned horse I’ve ridden for a long time but boy it’s slow when he gets into a gallop”. “It was under the whip in the trial and got beat almost 13 lengths”. As far as Cavanough was concerned Tidal Rush was on his way back to his owners to make way for a juvenile with an unknown future but that’s when their luck changed. “I’d just about given up but five days later I put the blinkers on him and ripped him up about half a mile with one that can gallop and ‘hello’ he beats it a few lengths,” Cavanough said. “I thought hang on. “The next time I worked him, he had the blinkers on again, I put the E-Trakka on him and so not to draw any attention to him with all the other trainers about, I left the track. “I went up to the coffee shop and watched his gallop on the computer, on E-Trakka. “In the gallop he produced the fastest E-Trakka reading I’ve seen since I’ve been in Scone. Just a fast horse, faster than horses like It’s Me, Fender and the like. “I said to myself, whoa, here we go. “I didn’t even tell Lauren, the wife. She heard me talking to one of the owners and asked me “what’s happened” and I said I’ve just got a fast one. She said “which one”, I said “I can’t tell you”.” Cavanough entered Tidal Rush in a 1010m maiden for colts, geldings and entires and the scene was set. “We were heading down to Newcastle on the Saturday and one of the owners rang and said he’s 70/1,” Cavanough said. “I said to Jack (Cavanough – son) “you better pull the truck over to the side of the road we’ve got a bit of business to do”. “We started chipping away at him and also rolled Street Power at Newcastle on the Saturday into him about 500/1 for a couple of dollars.” TAB’s Andrew Georgiou reported the betting fluctuations were $71, $34, $26, $21 down to $5.50 on race morning and according to Cavanough, “I must be a s*&# punter because they kept letting me on”. “I broke all the rules,” Cavanough said. “I put a tongue tie on him for the first time, he’d never had one on him, never jumped out in the blinkers, he’s worked in them certainly, twice but he’d never seen the barriers in them. “I put a two kilo kid (Madeline Owen) on. “Took him to the races. There were raps on (Max) Whitby’s horse, Cameron Crockett’s (Ga Ga Gus) and the Brett Thompson stable liked their horse (Rhythmic Song). “When we got to Dubbo, I think he opened about $6 and got out to $7.50 and we went again.” Tidal Rush started at $5 and when the barriers opened, Owen put her mount straight into the box-seat, eased three wide at the top of the straight and set about chasing down Rhythmic Song, overhauling the leader in the shadows of the post. “The bookie Richard Knight said to me at Dubbo, “I’ve been swinging the bag for 50 years and I’ve never seen one like that”,” Cavanough said. “When we were leaving the track a bloke said to me “you’ll be able to pay for Christmas now” and I replied “and the year after and the year after that.” “I’ve been training about 20 years. “I had my 900th winner last week at Quirindi, a horse called Clifton Springs. “I’ve probably had more than 700 horses, maybe less, pass through my care and never have I had a situation like this fall into my lap. “That’s how it all played out. Everything fell into place.” Finally, the million-dollar question – was Lauren, Cav’s wife, looked after? “She gets everything anyway,” he said.

Love this picture. Jockey and Horse both smiling!

Columnist Why there won't be another quite like Bossy By Bruce Clark 02:57pm • 29 November 2021 Comments Glen Boss rode his last winner in a Benchmark 72 Midway back on August 7 (keep that in mind for future trivia nights – Gemmahra is the answer by the way). And he won’t ride another after Saturday’s spectacular (almost r-rated) retirement at Caulfield. But take Winx-like odds he will be many times a winner as his extraordinarily open life keeps travelling along at Boss pace. Sure, he finishes life now out of the saddle as one of Australia’s most successful and prolific Group 1 winning jockeys, fifth with 90 and only Damien Oliver, George Moore, Jimmy Cassidy and Hugh Bowman ahead. You know all the other stats and highlights. But as ever, Bossy, captain of the glass very half full team, so addicted, he could start racing’s version of Alcoholics Anonymous, has his sights set firmly through the wide windscreen, not that little rear-view mirror. A young Glen Boss having his first pony ride when riding 90 group 1 winners was just a dream The Energizer Bunny would be considering a new vocation in the presence of Glen Boss. As we chatted enthusiastically Sunday, sure there was part reminiscence, sadly departed mates like Neil Williams, mentors like businessman Scott Perrin, retirement confidantes like Jimmy Cassidy and long-time friend, State Of Origin hero (Maroon of course) Alfie Langer. And there were acknowledgements of those surprise messages, amongst thousands on Saturday from the likes of Eddie Maguire to Mick Doohan, Andrew Hoy to Lloyd Williams. “It was just beautiful stuff, amazing,” said Bossy. But after a Saturday night of family and friend’s celebrations – “I was home before midnight, I’m getting too old (52), for that stuff” and Sunday Yum Cha lunch with childhood sweetheart, his wife Sloane, Boss is taking to tomorrow, the same way as every day gone by, foot down and ready to go. “This industry owes me nothing, but it has given me everything I have,” Boss said. “It’s afforded me our lifestyle, given our children the best education, allowed me to travel the world, more than I could ever know or expect, so now it’s time for me to give back, and I’m so excited about it.” This is Bossy at his best. Excited as Big Kev (remember him?), flamboyant, forever in your face, his own man, riddled with an incurable disease of self-belief, but as open as any human to flaws and failures and happy to wear them always on his sleeve. “I have just been overwhelmed with the people and especially the young people at the track on Saturday, it really has taken me aback, but I can’t tell you how excited I am for the future,” Boss said. And then he does. And then it’s like an infection. So, the Reader’s Digest version of Bossy post racing goes a little like this. The Ladbrokes gig: “I’ve got a pretty free rein to tell you the truth, it’s a huge platform and there are some really cool people but what I want to do is portray all that is good about our sport. I want to travel around Australia, to all the country cups, meet the people, tell their stories, show the impact racing has on their local communities, that sort of stuff.” As for opening a Ladbrokes account? “Mate, I’d be the worst punter in the world, and no-one wants a jockey’s tips do they?” I didn’t have the heart to suggest that those are the very sort of punters the corporates dine on. Then there is Boss on equine and human welfare: “I’m more than happy to put my hand up and share the times that I have been in bad places, dark places. I’m not a counsellor or have a PHD but I have an education in this life and know the challenges to young people. I know the long hours, in my day you were brought up as a man to repair your own issues, face it like a man, but you are only digging yourself a bigger hole. That’s bullshit. “I want to let people talk to me, put their hand up, I’ve been there, it’s all about education and saying it’s ok, I can tell you once I shed that skin, I came out the other side a much better and stronger person,” Boss said. “And I want to better project the story of the horse and the care and welfare we have for them, I think it’s the biggest challenge our industry faces. I want to get those animal activists or protesters or those who mouth off against racing to come and share a day or a week with me at the stables and see what we do for our horses. I might not change their mind, but I can try. Three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Glen Boss on the mighty Makybe Diva “If they are ignorant, they will be ignorant, but we have to do more.” And then there is Boss the educator, be it a TAFE like course for trainers, or an all-encompassing apprentice academy as a pathway into the industry that is long overdue. “I think training and education is vital and I’m looking forward to having some meetings with high profile leaders in our industry to share my view and see what we can do, I can’t wait.” There will be a Magic Millions ambassador’s gig, opportunities at Channel 7, all things Boss will chew off and run with bubbling with how much is on the plate, to feast on it all and perhaps wondering why he still wasn’t out there and gave it away. “Having things in place post racing, made the decision much easier. I knew I was coming towards the end of it, but I was quite frightened about what lies beyond so getting these things in place softened the landing for sure and once the decision was more public, the offers started to flow.” ********************************************** Boss admits he will miss the horse itself, which he’s been riding since he was four, when his mother Lorraine left Boss’ natural father Terry Finglas and moved to Gympie with sisters Samantha, Kelly and Tina. (If she hadn’t married Tom Boss, Bossy might have been a Finglas, a man he has never seen again) Naturally there was Pony Club, a painted horse called Pride, then a hand-me down called Sinbad, a crack at rugby league, before a trip to the races as a 15-year-old changed everything. It was Tom Boss’s mother who was a fixture at the Gympie race and took young Bossy into the jockey’s room and he was hooked, even when an old, chiselled faced rider looked at him and said: “forget it mate, you’re too bloody big”. But it was that day Boss knew his calling and hadn't stopped chasing it until Saturday. First it was Terry Chinner at Gympie and his first winner in a 300m quarter-horse race on Bassatika in December 1985. And more than 2400 winners since and a roll call of Australia’s best racehorses that have carried him along his journey. “I’ve never stopped loving the animal, and I reckon I will throw a leg over again one day, whether it’s mustering cattle or just having a ride, but I will. Boss with wife Sloane at Caulfield on Saturday “Mate, there is nothing like the moment of cantering off to the barriers on them before a race. You are in your own quiet place, it’s just you and the horse, that’s probably the thing I will miss the most.” ******************************** I’ve known Bossy since he was an apprentice who moved from Chinner to Kaye and Chick Tinsley at the Gold Coast. Our racing lives have been entwined but not enjoined. It’s just impossible not to be enthused or engaged with him though. I want to leave here with a little story. When he left Gympie, there was disagreement over his entitlements (as an apprentice), and by way of compensation he took the option of a car over money – or as he describes “a second-hand banger”. He didn’t have enough money for petrol to get to the Gold Coast but remembers a sling from an owner whose business was sapphire mining, he gave Boss a handful of blue stones, that would always be a reminder of his tough initiation into racing. A bare-chested Glen Boss acknowledges the Caulfield crowd after his final race in the saddle. Picture: Michael Klein Despite advice not to sell, he diverted to Mapleton in the Gold Coast hinterland looking for a gem trader and was astonished when a couple of the stones were worth a claw full of a couple of thousand dollars of cash. Car filled with gas, stomach filled with tucker, Bossy was off to the Gold Coast and stardom albeit across some dry gullies but many an untapped mountain peak. His end of apprenticeship payout would see him splash $30,000 on a Toyota Celica, then the flash go-to vehicle for would be lairs, and a new apartment with Sloane around Burleigh Heads. Today Bossy Inc. is an ambassador for Maserati which means he drives a luxury Italian car, for Moonah Links golf courses, which means he plays a bit and puts himself down off 11 when he should be off 16 (very rare for a golfing jockey), but he looks the part, probably because he also has a clothing deal with Mitch Graham suits. And yes, he still has the remainder of the handful of those blue sapphires. Don’t think retirement means you won’t be hearing again from G Boss, and that’s a good thing for racing.

Great no more posts about Trump until the next Primaries.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2108120 Natural immunity works better than vaccines. As for the Omicron it might be better for NZ if it is imported. It seems to be less severe than Delta. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10251991/Omicron-Covid-19-Australia-Nick-Coatsworth-says-nation-WANT-variant-spread.html

But if you are vaccinated what do you have to fear from the unvaccinated?

Well it appears that the Feds don't know either. Perhaps you could share you anecdotal evidence with them or do you have something more substantial than inference and innuendo? Says who? Show me the science that it "does things to horses that it did to Lance"? The only thing it can do is increase the number of red blood cells over what is normal. Then you are implying that the Border Feds and the Racing Feds are inept. As for naivety well Joe you believe Peter Profit has found smoke in the absence of any evidence.

The evidence is overwhelmingly supports that immunity occurs in the vast majority of Covid recovered. Certainly more so than in the vaccinated. Not only that but it lasts. Sweden and India which both have high levels of sero-prevalency are not experiencing the surges in case numbers that those countries that chose the lockdown and vaccinate later approaches. The number of confirmed reinfections is very very low. https://bnonews.com/index.php/2020/08/covid-19-reinfection-tracker/

I can't see how the Court wouldn't rule in your favour. Isn't the objective herd immunity and saving lives? If I have a robust natural immune response I have achieved the same outcome (research says better outcome) than those that have been vaccinated. Ironically it would appear that everyone will get it one way or another vaccinated or not vaccinated. Research is showing that a natural immune response lasts longer and is more effective against new variants. Not only am I saving the Government money but I'm achieving a better outcome.

Joe you should get a part-time gig writing for Peter Profit or at least go on a retainer for spruiking his rubbish journalism. Looking at the science of Human Recombinant Erythropoietin it seems to me to be unlikely that it has any effect on a horse for a number of reasons. Surely you would have to inject a shyte load to get an effect; There is a high risk that the immune system of a horse would reject the EPO as the equivalent horse protein isn't close to being the same; You couldn't guarantee the timing of it working - so you couldn't effectively target a particular race; A horse's blood circulatory system is quite different to a human's with the spleen being a huge reservoir of blood that is released in reaction to a flight or fight response (possibly a reason for EIPH); etc. The Gleeson disqualification that was for race fixing where he allegedly tampered with the hopples of one of his horses prior to a race causing them to break. You may have been referring to the Atkinson case which involved the avoidance of swabbing. The metabolites of EPO being "vastly different to the early version" that isn't the case as the active is the protein that stimulates the production of red blood cells. If it is synthetically produced then it is conceivably easier to detect than naturally produced EPO because it will have chemical fingerprints that are not natural. Afterall EPO is an essential peptide hormone necessary for life to continue. That in itself is part of the problem with EPO as it is naturally occurring. EPO testing has advanced significantly since Armstrong's days and it would be very very unlikely that the RIB testing regime couldn't pick it up especially if they were looking for it on the basis of allegations made. Getting back to the Woodend Boys allegation, all Peter Profit has done, which is what he has always done, is bookmark a story from March, waited a few months and then puffed some life back into by repeating the allegation and adding inference, supposition and innuendo. That's his modus operandi and it helps sells subscriptions. No evidence as such. As far as I know EPO isn't that easy to manufacture and would have had to have been imported. That importation process in itself would have to be sophisticated and expensive to avoid detection. Yeah na..... unless the RIB announce in the next week that they have found something then Profit is just blowing smoke.

So he is the idiot that was going to stand against John Key a few elections ago?

Well if I catch Covid-19 and recover I will be taking them to Court to get the Vaccine Passport changed to Immunity Passport.

Couldn't you call Michael Dore "ex TAB Dead Wood"? What positive changes has in made in the 2 years he has been at GRNZ? Or has he been waiting for Liz to get on board.

@SLB2.0 doubts it! That said he isn't the first young Jockey to start out rough. I remember the day Michael Walker hit my horse on the head with a whip (not the first time or the only horse he did it to) and being the good mare that she was she threw him and stood there looking at him with evil intent in her eye.

Gives us a break Joe. Peter Profit aka Archibald Butterfly aka Brenden Sheehan has been in and out of court constantly. He isn't worth suing as like most punters he's broke. He's a con artist and ex unionist. You made a sensible decision to not invest $20 a month to read his shyte. He has as much credibility as Don Murray.

9th on the Premiership table with a strike rate of 7.7. Not too tardy given the amount of holidays he gets.

TAB NZ Trading Performance Update - October 2021 25 November 2021 TAB New Zealand (TAB NZ) provides the third monthly trading update for the 2021/2022 financial year, with the results and highlights for October 2021. The TAB continued to be able to operate successfully through its online and some retail channels through October, although with Alert Levels changing for various parts of New Zealand due to Covid-19, there were some revenue-related impacts. These were due to the TAB’s retail and gaming networks in Auckland and Waikato remaining closed through October, and physical distancing requirements in other parts of New Zealand. These challenges have continued through to November, although easing in Alert Level 3 restrictions for retail have allowed some outlets in Auckland and Waikato to open as the month has progressed. October produced a milestone for the TAB in the form of the highest turnover on a Saturday in its 70-year history. Saturday, 16 October, which featured Group 1 racing at Hastings as well as the Caulfield Cup in Melbourne and the Everest in Sydney, turned over $17 million - $5.4 million up on Budget - from 1.37 million bets through the day. The TAB and industry continue to maintain a more robust position financially compared to during 2020’s nationwide lockdown. The Government response to Covid-19 has changed in recent months, and will continue to evolve through late 2021 and early 2022 with increased vaccination rates in the population. Due to these changing conditions, TAB NZ will keep a close watch on future potential trading conditions and the resulting flow on to profit distribution. Despite the impact of ongoing lockdowns in parts of New Zealand on trading in October, the TAB NZ Board has continued to hold distributions at budgeted levels through the first quarter. Although betting performance has continued to hold up well through early November, the varying restrictions for retail and gaming outlets in areas at various Alert Level 3 settings continue to be a challenge for the business. TAB NZ will continue to monitor and assess betting performance. Wagering Performance Summary In October, the key performance results for TAB held firm despite heightened Alert Levels. Turnover of $226.9 was slightly up on Budget (by $0.3m) and Gross Betting Revenue was on par with Budget, supported by a slight percentage increase in Gross Betting Margin (against Budget and October last year). Total Gross Betting Revenue was $36.6m, in line with Budget and at a margin of 16.1 percent. Racing Average NZ thoroughbred starters per race was 10.8, above the Year To Date (YTD) average of 10.2, while the peak turnover for a domestic meeting was $3.77m on 16 October for the Livamol Classic raceday in Hastings. Harness average starters per race was 10.4, above the YTD average of 9.9, while the peak meeting turnover of $1.33m was on 25 October for the Labour Day races at Ashburton. For greyhound racing, the average starters per race was 7.5, matching the YTD average, while the peak turnover for a domestic meeting was $395k on 28 October at Addington. The total margin for all New Zealand racing was 18.1 percent, slightly below the YTD New Zealand racing margin of 18.3 percent. Overseas racing margin was 18.8 percent, below the YTD average of 19.3 percent. Despite the impact of ongoing lockdowns in parts of New Zealand on trading in October, the TAB NZ Board has continued to hold distributions at budgeted levels through the first quarter. Although betting performance has continued to hold up well through early November, the varying restrictions for retail and gaming outlets in areas at various Alert Level 3 settings continue to be a challenge for the business. TAB NZ will continue to monitor and assess betting performance. Sport The top five sporting events by turnover this month were the NRL Grand Final ($1.1m), two All Blacks Tests (versus Springboks, $837k and USA, $391k), Wallabies versus Argentina ($365k) and Fury versus Wilder boxing ($348k). The margin on options selected by customers across sports continued to vary with the in-play sports delivering a gross betting margin of 7.3 percent. Basketball, Football and tennis were the main drivers of in-play performance, accounting for 60 percent of in-play turnover at 7.4, 6.7 and 7.6 percent margin respectively. The pre-match singles margin was 11.1 percent, driven by basketball (15 percent of pre-match turnover) at a margin of just under 17 percent offset by rugby union (20 percent of sports turnover) at 7.6 percent. Sports Multi margin was 21.1 percent. October Operational Performance Reported Profit for the month was $13.8m, which was $0.9m below Budget. Operating Expenses were $9.5m for the month, which was $0.3m below Budget. Year To Date (1 Aug 2021 to 31 Oct 2021) Reported Profit was $36.4m, which was $2.3m below Budget and $7.1m below last year. Year To Date (1 Aug 2021 to 31 Oct 2021) Operating Expenses were $27.8m, which was $1.7m below Budget and $0.6m above last year. October Distributions Racing Codes were paid $16.4m in distributions and other payments for October, versus $15.7m budgeted. This consisted of TAB NZ Betting Profit (listed as Fixed Distribution in the table below), Offshore Bookmaker Commission Fees, which are based on actual turnover (termed Betting Information Use Charges (BIUC) in the table below), and Betting Duty/Levy repeal. Top 10 Racing events by turnover Date Venue Race No. Race description Turnover 16-Oct Caulfield R9 Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup (G1) $1,011K 23-Oct Moonee Valley R9 Cox Plate (G1) $862K 16-Oct Randwick R7 The TAB Everest $695K 30-Oct Flemington R6 Penfolds Victoria Derby (G1) $694K 16-Oct Hastings R8 Livamol Classic (G1) $610K 30-Oct Rosehill R7 XXXX Golden Eagle $497K 2-Oct Randwick R8 TAB Epsom (G1) $493K 30-Oct Flemington R5 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (G1) $442K 16-Oct Hastings R10 Bostock NZ Spring Carnival Finale $426K 30-Oct Flemington R8 Kennedy Cantala (G1) $407K Top 10 Sporting events by turnover Date Code Event Turnover 3-Oct Rugby League Penrith Panthers v South Sydney Rabbitohs $1,140K 2-Oct Rugby Union South Africa v New Zealand $837K 24-Oct Rugby Union USA v New Zealand $392K 2-Oct Rugby Union Argentina v Australia $366K 10-Oct Boxing Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder $348K 31-Oct Rugby Union Wales v New Zealand $306K 22-Oct Basketball Golden State Warriors v Los Angeles Clippers $266K 20-Oct Basketball Los Angeles Lakers v Golden State Warriors $232K 9-Oct Rugby Union Hawkes Bay v Tasman $232K 29-Oct Rugby Union Canterbury v Tasman $226K

Non Raceday Inquiry – Decision dated 25 November 2021 – Wiremu Pinn ID: RIB6089 Respondent(s): Wiremu Pinn - Apprentice Jockey Applicant: Mr J Oatham - Chief Stipendiary Steward Adjudicators: Hon J W Gendall QC Persons Present: Mr J Oatham, Mr B Jones - Stipendiary Steward, Mr W Robinson - Stipendiary Steward, Mr W Pinn, Mr L Molly - assisting Mr Pinn, Mr D Miller - Employer of Mr Pinn, Mr N Harris - Jockey's Mentor Information Number: A14156 Decision Type: Adjudicative Decision Charge: Used whip in improper manner Rule(s): 638(3)(e) Plea: Admitted Stewards Report Results Code: Thoroughbred Race Date: 30/10/2021 Race Club: Fielding Jockey CLub Race Location: Awapuni Racing Centre - 67 Racecourse Road, Awapuni, Palmerston North, 4412 Race Number: R1 Hearing Date: 24/11/2021 Hearing Location: Tauranga Racecourse Outcome: Proved Penalty: Apprentice Jockey Wiremu Pinn is suspended for 3 months REASONS FOR DECISION OF ADJUDICATIVE COMMITTEE FOLLOWING INQUIRY HELD AT TAURANGA RACECOURSE ON 24 NOVEMBER 2021 1. Following Authority to Charge being granted by the General Manager of Stewards, Mr J Oatham, the Chief Stipendiary Steward presented an Information charging Mr W Pinn with a breach of Rule 638(3)(e) of the Rules of Racing. The Informant contended that Mr Pinn used his whip on his mount PRIORESS in an improper manner in Race 1 at the Feilding Jockey Club meeting held at Awapuni Racecourse on 30 October 2021. 2. Rule 638(3)(e) where relevant provides that: “a Rider must not use his whip in an …… improper manner” 3. Through his lay representative Mr Pinn admitted the breach at the commencement of the hearing today. 4. The written Summary of Facts presented by Mr Oatham recorded: “1. Wiremu Pinn is the holder of a Class B (Apprentice) Riders Licence under the New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) Rules Of Racing. 2. On Saturday 30 October 2021 Wiremu Pinn was riding at the Feilding Jockey Club’s race meeting conducted at the Awapuni Racecourse and rode the horse PRIORESS trained by Lisa Latta in Race 1 on the programme. 3. PRIORESS finished 2nd in the race which was the Feilding Hotel 1300 over a distance of 1300 metres being beaten by an official margin of 1 ¼ lengths. 4. Subsequent to the race day complaints were received by Racing Integrity Board Stipendiary Stewards regarding the manner in which Wiremu Pinn had used his whip in the race. 5. A review of the Trackside film footage of the race, and in particular the “Side 2” close up footage, which was focused on PRIORESS did confirm these complaints that Wiremu Pinn had struck his mount with the handle end of the whip on one occasion near the 50 metres. 6. Wiremu Pinn was interviewed by Stipendiary Steward Neil Goodwin at the Otaki-Maori Racing Clubs race meeting on Thursday 4 November 2021. He denied having knowledge of his actions until he had been told by people who had seen the Trackside TV coverage which had included the close up view later on the evening of Saturday 30 October 2021.” 5. The Committee was shown the Trackside side 2 camera film, when it focused on PRIORESS. It disclosed that the horse was leading well into the home straight. It was being vigorously ridden, with proper whip use. About 50 metres from the finish it was about to be overtaken by the eventual winner, MORUS. Mr Pinn is then seen to skilfully slide his hand down his whip from the handle to near, or on, the flap end. He grasped it then proceeded to strike his mount forcefully behind the saddle with the hard handle end of the whip. His mount was beaten into second by MORUS by 1¼ lengths. One strike was applied to the horse in this fashion. It was not done in the course of conventional and accepted whip use, but rather in the manner of striking with a solid implement. 6. Some members of the public watching the coverage on “Trackside” TV observed Mr Pinn’s actions from the zoomed close focus on PRIORESS, and a complaint was made by one, via the SPCA, to the Ministry of Primary Industries. That organisation was advised by the Chief Stipendiary Steward that the RIB become aware of the incident and was in the process of bringing a charge. Mr Molloy’s Submissions on the Facts 7. Mr Molloy said that the modern whip now used has padding, and no significant power is gained from the handle of it. He said “any improper use” was at the lower end of the scale and was only “technically improper.” He observed that Mr Pinn had been doing his best to give his mount its chance in the straight, using the whip backhanded; he had immediately desisted when he had realised “what happened; no speed or undue force in the whip occurred and the matter was not an “animal welfare” issue.” Mr Molloy submitted that the action was “inadvertent” and Mr Pinn had desisted upon realising what he did. 8. But Mr Pinn told the Committee, as well as a Stipendiary Steward on 4 November 2021, that “he was unaware at the time” what he had done. There appears to be inconsistent explanations. They do not square with the admission of the charge. 9. “Inadvertent” carries a connotation of untended, or “accidental” or “not purposely”, and not deliberate. Given the admission of the charge, and the film evidence, the Committee is comfortably satisfied that the act was intentional. It accepts the submission of Mr Oatham that the action of altering the manner in which Mr Pinn held the whip was skilful and deliberate, as was the way in which there was striking of the horse, in the way displayed on the film. Penalty Submissions 10. Mr Oatham provided comprehensive submissions which, for completeness, are set out below. “a. Mr Pinn is 23 years old and employed by Daniel Miller the holder of a Class A Trainers Licence based at Matamata. b. He was first granted a Class B Riders Licence on 10 May 2018 when employed by Alan Sharrock in New Plymouth having his first race day ride on 12 May 2018. He then rode through to 2 February 2019 before relinquishing his licence on 11 February 2019. He had previously been employed by Te Akau and Stephen Autridge prior to race day riding. c. When attempting to resurrect his apprenticeship he spent time with Ken Kelso in Matamata moving to the employment of Daniel Miller where he was eventually granted a reinstatement of his apprentice licence by NZTR on 5 October 2020. d. Although having considerable success since resuming his riding career his riding has been of concern to Stipendiary Stewards from a number of angles with the period January to May 2021 including three charges of failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure that his horse is given full opportunity resulting in suspensions totalling around twelve weeks. Of further concern was an Improper Riding charge in May which related to animal welfare issues attracting a suspension of close to three weeks. e. In a career which to date has seen him riding for approx. 22 months he has had a total of 764 rides for 89 wins. Far less impressive is his overall Judicial record which has seen a total of 19 breaches of the rules – 3 reasonable and permissible, 1 improper riding, 9 careless riding, 2 failing to ride out to end of race, 3 whip offences and 1 of weighing in overweight. A further 18 official warnings/reprimands have also been recorded. f. As we are aware racing’s social licence is a target for many. This type of action leaves the industry wide open for criticism with MPI contacting the RIB regarding a complaint received via the SPCA. Various other complaints have also been made to the RIB regarding this incident. g. He has concerned Stewards, along with complaints being received by Stewards regarding his treatment of, and attitude towards his mounts on a number of occasions where he has been spoken to regarding animal welfare concerns. It has been stressed to him that people are always watching closely with any animal welfare issues in particular attracting great scrutiny. h. It is submitted by the RIB that the only conclusion we can come to after viewing film footage of his riding is that striking his mount with the handle end of his whip was a deliberate action. i. There is very little in NZTR records of precedent to this charge to assist us in determining penalty. It is believed that a clear message must be sent to all industry participants that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated. Taking into account all matters including the offending itself and the related animal welfare aspect, along with his poor disciplinary record the RIB would submit that a substantial period of suspension is the only appropriate penalty and see that in the vicinity of a suspension of his riders licence of between three and four months.” Respondent’s Submissions as to Penalty 11. Mr Molloy submitted that the offence was “technical” and at the minor end of the scale. He emphasised that Mr Pinn stopped applying force in this way immediately. He said a number of Senior Jockeys supported Mr Pinn and had queried why he should be charged. He said the prior offending history ought not be aggravating, and the Committee should only consider prior breaches of the Whip Rules. He contended that only a fine was required. 12. Mr Miller accepted that Mr Pinn has had “some anger issues” but had never seen him improperly strike a horse. 13. Mr Harris said that when he was instructing Mr Pinn at Apprentice School, he had at times displayed boasting, or “big-noting” behaviour. Mr Harris (in an endeavour to find a reason for this action) wondered whether this event was an example of him “skiting”. Mr Pinn’s Previous Breaches of the Rules in 2021 14. Although Mr Oatham set out all Mr Pinn’s breaches since riding in 2018, the Committee only takes into account those since 2021. His record this year is lamentable. The breaches include: a) 4 suspensions for careless riding • 21 January 2021 (9 National Riding Days) • 19 March 2021 (3 days plus $250 fine) • 13 April 2021 (7 days plus $800 fine) • 9 November 2021 (7 days – to expire shortly on 25 November 2021) b) Penalties for breach of the Whip Rule (Excessive Strikes) • 25 September 2021 (fine $250) • 1 October 2021 (fine $500) • 2 October 2021 (fine $200 plus 5 days suspension) • In addition he was warned on 18 September 2021 for 2 strikes in succession inside the final 100 metres c) 2 Breaches of Rule 636(1)(b). (Failing to take reasonable and permissible measures). d) Breach of Rule 638(1)(c) on 5 May 2021. (Improper riding when forcibly jagging his mount’s mouth (suspended 13 National Riding Days – 3 weeks). 15. The offence on 5 May 2021 was especially serious involving deliberate actions, and the reactions of the horse showed that it suffered pain. This improper riding was much more serious than being careless or incompetent. The Committee’s decision there records that: • Mr Pinn “was well aware of his duty as a Rider as he had previously been warned by the Chief Stipendiary Steward following a complaint by a horse’s connections about a similar type of behaviour.” • “The Committee is satisfied from all the evidence and reactions of the horse, that this improper riding inflicted pain on the horse.” • “Animal welfare issues are paramount and Mr Pinn, as well as other Riders in the Community at large must understand that riding of this nature will not be tolerated by the Racing Code. A stern penalty is necessary to signal the disapproval of the RIU and JCA, to uphold that all must have in Racing, and to deter others.” 16. It is troubling that Mr Pinn does not appear to have heeded those remarks. 17. “Improper” can have several meanings but all carry a pejorative or condemning connotation. It can mean unacceptable; not in accordance with acceptable standards; unfitting; irregular; unprofessional. It can never be acceptable to deliberately strike a horse with a solid implement, whether whip handle butt end or similar object. It will be something more than, and outside, the usual 2 categories of Breach of Whip Rules in either 638(g)(i) or (ii). 18. Considerations, or principles, relevant in sentencing or sanctioning matters for those licensed as members of a profession (and Jockey are “professionals”) are well known and discussed in many cases (eg the Appeal Decision in RIU v Lawson). They may include: • The need to deter other Riders. • The need to punish, and deter, the wrongdoer. • The need to uphold the proper standards of the Profession or Racing Code. • The need to protect, and inspire community confidence in, and expectation of; the Racing profession. • Crucially, in this case, the need to signal to the community, and any person involved in the Racing profession, that horse welfare matters are vital and actions which impinge adversely on this, will not be tolerated. 19. Of course any suspension will affect a Rider’s privilege to obtain income from using a licence to ride, but that is an inevitable outcome which arises where any member of a profession requires to be suspended because of wrongdoing and breaching the Rules of that profession. 20. There are no defined Penalty Guidelines for this offence. It will all depend on the circumstances and be fact specific. A “starting point” of 6 weeks suspension is recommended for Improper Riding”. Improper use of the whip can take many different forms, and where a whip is used deliberately – as here – and not in a conventional manner contemplated by the Rules which govern its use, a stern penalty is required. The Committee (with 30 years’ experience sitting on Racing Judicial Committees), the Stewards, other experienced retired Jockeys (Mr N Harris, Mr W Robinson) know of no previous similar behaviour by a Rider. In truth, it was serious offending, which rightly attracted the condemnation and alarm of members of the public, the SPCA, the MPI and the Stewards. Penalty Outcome 21. A starting point of 8 weeks (2 months) suspension is taken, so as to reflect the serious nature of improper use, and to endeavour to protect the vital Animal Welfare considerations. To that starting point a significant uplift is required to reflect the several aggravating features. They include the following. 22. a) Mr Pinn’s very poor disciplinary record this year with 10 breaches across several different Rules. b) He had previously been warned by a Stipendiary Steward after a Trainer complained about his treatment of a horse. c) The Ruakaka offending on 5 May 2021 for improper riding which caused pain to the horse was serious yet does not seem to have had a deterrent effect. 23. Mr Molloy submitted that the admission of the charge was a mitigating matter so as to require a discount. The Committee carefully considered that submission but does not accept it. The decision in, and remarks of, the Supreme Court in R v Hessell make it clear that an automatic reduction in a sentence or penalty does not follow simply because of a guilty plea. All the circumstances of an individual case are to be considered in determining whether the plea ought to be required as a matter of mitigation. These will include, when the plea is made (early or late); has it resulted in saving of expense to the prosecution; and avoidance of witnesses having to give evidence; is the plea indicative of genuine remorse or contrition; may be relevant. In this case the acceptance of the charge came very late at the last moment and only after Mr Molloy was shown the Trackside film by Mr Oatham. Any defence would have been futile. The plea was not accompanied by an expression of remorse or contrition or apology. 24. Mr Pinn did not show to the Committee any remorse or insight into his offence, and his attitude as expressed was that he felt he “had a target on his back”, was unfairly treated by Stewards and closely watched because of his success. He said other Riders would not have been charged for this breach. Of course, lack of genuine remorse or contention is not regarded as aggravating, but it is regarded simply as an absence of a mitigating factor. But the plea alone, given all those factors, and the guide from the Supreme Court, did not entitle any reduction in the penalty, as it was not genuinely a matter of mitigation. 25. A condign and substantial penalty is required to bring home to Mr Pinn that his blatant disrespect for the Thoroughbred’s and the Rules of Racing, cannot be tolerated. Those involved in the Racing Code, and all members of the public – whether racing people or not – should know and understand that sanctions for egregious actions will be severe. 26. There is an uplift to the starting point of a further 1 month’s suspension. 27. Accordingly, Mr Pinn’s Licence as a Class B Rider is suspended for 3 calendar months, to commence after his current suspension ends on 25 November 2021 and to conclude at the conclusion of racing on 25 February 2022. Hon J W Gendall QC Chair Decision Date: 25/11/2021 Publish Date: 26/11/2021

But has he named people at Woodend? The EPO drug he alleges is being used is produced in India and the image he used has been downloaded from the net. All he's done is extrapolated from an allegation made in March. Where's the evidence? Where's the import paper trail? Or are the Woodend boys rowing out to sea to pick it up off fishing boatyard? Are we expecting "breaking news" from the Racing Integrity Board any day soon?

You've just written a lot of words and said nothing. Does this Peter Profit write in the same style? There were allegations made in a Stuff article by Sam Sherwood in March 2021 after Alford was caught administering formalin. But there has been nothing published since. Unless something breaks in the next week I'd say Profit is full of BS. Actually a lot of what Profit writes is conjecture and innuendo and hardly brave as he avoids naming people.

Going by what some posters write on BOAY I would have thought that a couple of no nonsense kick arse administrators would have been the call. Dore has been a senior manager at GRNZ for two years now. What's changed? He had 29 years at the TAB - hardly the best credentials for sorting shyte out. As for Whelan - might have a passion for the industry and patting dogs but isn't her work experience primarily syrup fronting Trackside?

I thought the new RIB was going to bring consistency. Number of instances now where there hasn't been any and especially with similar offences between codes.