David Thiselton wrote
Gavin Lerena did not accept an admission of guilt and an accompanying ten day suspension for his ride in the Vodacom Durban July aboard the Mike de Kock-trained Flirtation.The evidence from Lerena’s point of view will be heard in a case in Johannesburg.
On video evidence the unfortunate incident appears to be caused by Flirtation coming in, from draw 19, at a severe angle just after the 2000m mark.
Happy Landing appears to be carried in by this movement and this causes the horses on his inside to be cramped.
The knock on effect sees a number of horses being severely jostled ending with Run For It being cut into and propelled sideways into Castlethorpe, who is rammed into the fence.
Mike Bass, trainer of Castlethorpe, said this horse never travelled well again.
“I think he was a bit traumatised or winded,” he said.
The Bass-trained Super Storm was also effected, but Bass felt that other factors had cost him.
“He was a bit keen in the running and didn’t enjoy the slow pace,” he said.
Bass said that his third-placed English Garden had a trouble free run and had “every chance”.
Bass felt that ten days was not a severe enough penalty for the alleged offending rider.
“I would say two months would be more appropriate,” he said. “What’s the point of having draw ceremonies if a rider on the outside just comes in and takes out half the field.”
All three of Bass’s horses fortunately pulled up sound, although the two three-year-olds English Garden and Castlethorpe will now be sent to the paddock for a rest.
The Justin Snaith-trained Run For It pulled up with both his hindlegs affected. This luckless horse has had a terrible time of it in Durban and Snaith will rest him until the Cape Sizzling Summer Season.
Snaith suffered a nightmare day. He was firstly disappointed that his charge in the Grade 1 Golden Horseshoe Gimmethegreenlight was loaded relatively early despite being the 7-10 odds on favourite and then left standing in the stalls after a delay, which could have contributed to his sluggish start. He said, “I feel the public’s money should be taken into account, especially on July day. We, the trainers, also have to suffer the consequences. It is common for us to receive death threats when a strongly supported favourite loses on a big day.”
Starter Paul Hepworth said, “We accommodate horses according to their previous records in the pens and taking the betting into account would be impossible especially considering how quickly it can change. I can understand his frustrations but unforeseen circumstances led to the delay. Although it is a common belief that horses that stand in the stalls for a long time jump slowly, this only happens to a very small minority and if they build up such a record they are duly accommodated.”
Snaith continued, “July day and the July should be treated as a unique, special event. It’s great to win the race, but you have to say at what cost. I love my horses and will have to take into account the roughness of this year’s race before entering horses next year.”
Gavin van Zyl’s fourth-placed The Apache was also a victim of the scrimmaging.
He said, “He was sitting on Pierre Jourdan’s hindquarters and was ahead of English Garden. After the interference he ended up behind English Garden and two lengths or so behind Pierre Jourdan. I have no doubt that the incident cost him one or two places. By causing interference the reward could be to win the race. This reward is far greater than the deterrent for doing so and I think this needs to be addressed.”
Kevin Shea’s mount, the De Kock-trained Galileo’s Destiny, was also a victim. “It was very rough and a few of us were affected,” said Shea. “I didn’t mind being off the bit at the time, but after that he never picked it up again. But at least there wasn’t an accident.”
Regarding the potential punishment Shea said, “The stipes are to make the decisions. We have to accept them.”
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