Beadman suggests a cutaway solution
Champion jockey Darren Beadman believes a cutaway rail in the straight should be put in place when the movable rail gets out beyond seven metres to give every horse its chance.
The final Group 1 day of the Sydney autumn was marred by horses not getting clear runs and Beadman believe the cutaway is a good option.
“When the rail is out that far, there is a lot less room, unless you get to the outside in those big fields,” Beadman said. “But when you’re stuck on the inside of horses, you can’t get there.
“What the cutaway would give is the option to go back to the inside and open up more options, particularly in big fields.
“It is not something you need when the rail is in, but when you get it out that far, the horses are all looking for the same runs and you get what happened last Saturday. There were plenty of hard luck stories.
“The jockeys are going to work it out, but they need more room to move in the straight to spread the fields out.
“It would give more horses their chance.”
Australian Turf Club general manager of racing, Nevesh Ramdhani has had experience with cutaway rails in South Africa and believes Beadman proposal has merit.
O’Shea ruling looms with plenty on the line
A final decision on the John O’Shea improper conduct charges are expected to be handed down by Racing Appeal Tribunal in the next week, but Racing NSW might be the one with the most to lose.
O’Shea’s legal team presented cases on two appeals to Geoff Bellew SC on Friday afternoon with Racing NSW represented by Oliver Jones SC as it appealed the local rule being ruled invalid by Racing NSW Appeal Panel head Lachlan Gyles.
The local rule mandates a mandatory six-month qualification for improper conduct towards an official in NSW, which Matthew Sterling for O’Shea maintained was inconsistent with the Australian Racing Rules and, in fact, varied or amended.
If Bellew were to uphold the ruling of Gyles it would put Racing NSW in an interesting position under Australian Racing 9 (c)
“A PRA may not make new rules (other than Local Rules) or rescind or alter these Australian Rules, and a PRA which does not comply with this requirement shall ipso facto cease to be a PRA,” it reads.
So the local rule could do what Racing Victoria and other PRAs have tried to do in recent years.
O’Shea was found guilty of improper conduct towards Racing vets after Bev’s Nine was scratched after being found to be lame behind the barriers at Rosehill on February 21.
The hearing, which went for just over an hour, saw the two parties agree on most matters. They had already put forward written submissions.
Sterling took Bellew through the CCTV footage from the stabling area, which showed O’Shea in animated conversation with the two vets as Bev’s Nine is trotted up again after being scratched, before the group left together for the stewards’ room.
Jones SC focused on the power Racing NSW had from the Thoroughbred Racing Act to run racing in the state, and it gave it the power to make a rule for the good of racing.
Sterling called for “a nil-all draw” from the hearing, indicating O’Shea would serve his two-month disqualification for his improper conduct towards two Racing NSW vets at Rosehill on February 21. He also tendered written apologies to both vets.
But it was interesting to note that O’Shea was compelled to plead guilty because of the mandatory penalty, as it has a special circumstances condition, which allows the penalty to be reduced for co-operation and a guilty plea.
“What do you want to do with that?” Bellew asked Sterling during the hearing.
Jones asked Bellew if the rule is not invalid to return to the original disqualification of four months to be enforced.
Bellew indicated he would receive a transcript of the hearing this week and would have a decision soon after that.
Ka Ying Rising getting better and better
World champion sprinter Ka Ying Rising doesn’t need anything more added to his invincible aura after his 20th straight in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin on Sunday, but David Hayes has given a warning ahead of The Everest.
“I’m working with a better horse this year than I was last year. A much better horse,” Hayes said. “he has been there before and will be better for doing the trip before.
“We will do exactly the same as last year, a run here before getting to Sydney for The Everest. It will be his only run.”
Ka Ying Rising once again opened a big margin over rivals as he lowered the Sha Tin 1200m track record with something in hand, which made him front page news on the South China Morning Post.
He will head for a month off before starting his Everest preparation.
“I am really looking forward to getting him a break at Conghua and getting his head down in those day paddocks,” Hayes said.
“Then, before it gets really hot, he will come back into work and get a bit of that Aussie cash again, which will be nice.”
Awkward Adkins bows and salutes
There was some confusion during the ANZAC ceremony at Randwick, which has led to jockey Andrew Adkins being dubbed the sergeant by a couple of trainers.
Adkins was asked to lay the wreath on behalf of the jockeys alongside Rear Admiral Lee Goddard at Randwick.
“He said to me, we need to bow, so just follow what I do,” Adkins said. “So when he bowed, I bowed and then he saluted, so I followed him.
“It was an honour to be a part of the service and I was just trying to do the right thing. It would have looked quite funny and awkward.”
The ceremony was a wonderful part of the ANZAC day races, which need to be pushed more by the industry around the country.
