Why these farcical penalties don’t pass the pub test
It was the tale of two whip penalties in Melbourne across the weekend.
One, stewards ruled cost a feature race victory and was worth 13 meetings.
The other didn’t affect the result, according to stewards, but drew a 10-meeting suspension and a $3000 fine.
The fact Luke Cartwright was aware when he came in on Royal Insignia that Daniel Moor had breached the whip rules in winning the Aurie’s Star Handicap and protested his neck defeat makes it interesting.
What competitive advantage did Boomtown Boss get from being hit five more times than allowed before the 100m, four in consecutive strides, also a breach of the rules.
Crisp Steeplechase | Sing For Peace
WHAT A FINISH! It wasn’t to be for Stern Idol today, but Sing For Peace got the better of Mr Lincoln in a thrilling finish! 😮
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/MAjgiw4gjT— Racing.com (@Racing) August 2, 2026
Was it worth more than a neck?
Moor pointed out there is no way of quantifying the breach in his evidence.
Should there be?
A rule without the ultimate consequences is not a rule at all.
Nic Ashman suggested on X a half length for each strike would teach jockeys how to count.
Dominic Beirne replied saying, he took a 0.1 length penalty for each strike over the limit to stewards.
“Overwhelmingly stewards are adamant the suggestion can’t be invoked since the benefit can’t be quantified. Their point is true…. the benefit can’t be quantified,” Beirne wrote.
Ashman replied: “I battle with how stewards say the benefit can’t be quantified. How do they quantify interference? It’s all guess work to a degree. There’s no specified measurement for taking a runner’s rightful running line but we manage.”
However, the margin in whip protests is usually the narrowest, and the effect of a strike with the whip cannot be clearly seen, while in interference protests the effect of interference has to be clear to be upheld.
In Saturday’s protest the ruling is correct, but the whip rule remains a farce in its present form.
At the moment, a strike inside final 100m has no value where a strike at 105m mark does.
There should be a clear limit like in England, once you have that then stewards could give a value to each strike.
Sunday was more clearcut.
BOOMTOWN BOSS and trainer Tony Gollan delivered an upset victory in the Aurie’s Star (G3) at Flemington.
See Results: https://t.co/pvxOZhqXlV pic.twitter.com/06zntfytLe— Sky Racing World (@SkyRacingWorld) August 1, 2026
Cillin Leonard was anticipating victory as he stopped using the whip to salute on Mr Lincoln in the Crisp Steeple.
Racing Victoria stewards penalty is completely inadequate at 13 meetings.
Would the penalty have been more if instead of the $18 outsider missing victory the $3.20 second pick was the victim in this case?
The confidence to stop riding and salute is the ultimate give-up in this case. Stewards agreed it “had affected the result.”
The penalty should be more severe.
Recently at Newcastle, Zac Lloyd sat up in a maiden, but won the race. As he weighed in, the steward showed Lloyd the photo.
“That’s how close you were to eight weeks [out],” was reportedly the message.
Johnstone to continue work at Racing NSW
The appointment of Jacqueline Johnstone to a contract at the NRL will not see her stop consulting to Racing NSW.
The former head of Integrity at Racing NSW has become a key part of the tight-knit leadership team since starting her consultancy business, alongside Peter V’landys and Graeme Hinton.
It is understood there will be a three-day-to-two split between the NRL and racing during the contract.
She has become a member of the Perth Bears board since taking up consultancy, a role she will continue while consulting to the NRL, who own the club.
OTI might have a couple of spring stars on the way to Australia
John O’Shea and Tom Charlton have got a bargain with OTI in Goodwood winner Ciarrai Abu, which will arrive on the spring plane to Sydney.
Since they bought the three-year-old he is a three-time winner for Harry Eustace and looks a nice prospect for Australia.
Ciarrai Abu isn’t the finished product he dumped his rider on the way to start and run out in the straight when he sprinted away.
“It was a good win the other night and it will be interesting where he fits in here,” O’Shea said. “We have something to work with there.”
OTI had a great week with Joseph O’Brien-trained Small Fry, a runner-up at Goodwood over 2800m, now to try to qualify for the Melbourne Cup via a Group race in Europe, most likely in a small field.
They won the Grand National Hurdle with Andy Win and Nearco Fund provided Blake Shinn with his return winner at Flemington.
No surprise from ATC administrator in first report
The first report from administrator Morgan Kelly to Australian Turf Club members provided few surprises but stated the problems the club faces.
He identified the thefts that have been reported in recent times as a concern and that the club lacks future planning.
“Our review has also identified the ATC’s lack of strategic and commercial focus has resulted in maintenance of facilities being deprioritised. This is something we expect many members have noticed over recent years,” he wrote.
“We have started preparing a strategic asset management plan that will ensure that future necessary repairs are budgeted, and planned for ahead of time. There are also a range of historic maintenance issues that need to be worked through urgently.
“The Club has an immediate opportunity to be more efficient and commercially focused.”
The process to get the club operating in a profitable manner will take more than a year, but it should be seen as an opportunity to secure its future.
Like all clubs in NSW, the ATC has to live with a funding model that makes it dependent on Racing NSW.
One for the punters
Randwick barrier trials provided the platform for the spring stars on Friday morning. But one horse stood out in Gangsta Granny, who has returned an imposing mare and won her trial. Wherever she goes first-up you want to be on.
Gangsta Granny, with @clarkyhk in the saddle, finishes off the 1000m trial at Randwick on Friday best to down Yellow Jersey and Blue Door. Also trialling were Barnavara, River Of Stars, Ohope Wins and Soulcombe. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/kpa8grRCOe
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) July 30, 2026
One from the stewards
Fan Harder was a $41 outsider in Saturday’s Highway, but won’t be starting that price next time he heads to town. After being slowly away, Fan Harder had a good run on the fence and was ready to launch nly for stewards to note, “near the 150m was disappointed for a run to the inside of [favourite] Sobek. Fan Harder then remained held up for the remainder of the event and could not be fully tested.” He is one to follow at his next couple of runs.
One for the bookies
The bookies had a field day at Rosehill with short-priced favourites Columbus, Enivable and Jarrito all never raising punters’ hopes. However, It’s A Knockout should be avoided from now on. She has beaten Vivy Air and Oh Diamond Lil in her past two wins, but they were in 2024 and 2025. She hasn’t won for a year and has reached her mark.
