Catch 22 (rule 153 iv)
September 27th 2008 02:43
After a hearing lasting three hours the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) found the Ballydoyle contingent of trainer Aidan O'Brien, and jockeys Johnny Murtagh and Colm O'Donoghue, all guilty of breaching the rule concerning 'team tactics' in the running of the Juddmonte International Stakes at Newmarket in August.
(photo: newmarketracecourse.com)
Aidan O'Brien was fined £5,000 and both jockeys were banned for 7 days. The result of the Juddmonte International Stakes was not affected by the outcome.
O'Brien was fined as he had failed to provide adequate instructions to the riders concerning the rules of racing.
The BHA's team tactics Rule 153 (iv) which states: "a rider shall not make a manoeuvre in a race in the interest of another horse in common ownership...whether or not such a manoeuvre caused interference or caused his horse to fail to achieve the best possible placing".
"However, I would like to stress that in reaching their conclusions the panel made clear that there was no attempt to cheat, simply that the breaches occurred due to ignorance of the details of the rule in question." - Paul Struthers, BHA public relations manager.
With the multiple entries of Ballydoyle in the feature races there have been many instances where one of the stable runners (sometimes numbering four or five entries) will start at 100/1 (or more) and dictate a fast pace from the front - even if the best (even if remote) chance for success from this horse has been a patient ride in the past.
I suppose all of this is working in favour of the Ballydoyle team while they train and prepare horses suited to these tactics. But if (an Australian equivalent) they produced a horse like Might And Power - no doubt then the other Ballydoyle runners would not attempt to take on the stable champion.
And having a truly run race is fine in theory - provided you are not the trainer of a frontrunner.
A horse should be entered into a race with the chance and opportunity to win. Red Rock Canyon not only made the pace for Duke Of Marmalade, but it did appear that Colm O'Donoghue did look over his shoulder as his horse began to wilt to ensure a safe passage through for his stablemate.
And to further muddy the waters there were comments made by Johnny Murtagh that a pre-race plan was arranged with O'Donoghue. Colm O'Donoghue would later admit that at the hearing with the BHA that he did indeed act in the interests of Duke Of Marmalade - but claimed that he was unaware of the team tactics rule.
(say, what's that about ignorance of the law being no excuse!?)
Johnny Murtagh was found guilty by the BHA in acting contrary to the proper conduct of racing - but not the integrity of racing.
This was the first hearing held under the BHA newly updated "team tactics" rule. These rules were adapted in 2006 after the running of the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes when Ballydoyle had multiple entries with favourite and outsider. George Washington would go on to win for O'Brien - but Frankie Dettori clashed heatedly with O'Brien after the race as he felt that he had been denied a fair chance on his mount Librettist when it was carried wide when rounding the home turn by Ballydoyle outsider Ivan Denisovich.
"We use pacemakers to make an even gallop and not to hinder or favour any other horse. The last thing we want is to win any race anywhere if it was unfavourably won. We would prefer not to win any of those Group Ones if they were won unfavourably and they would not mean anything to us." - Aidan O'Brien.
When the bans start is still subject to appeal (if lodged) - but it will not affect Johnny Murtagh's ride in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris on October the 5th.
As much as I am in admiration of the Ballydoyle juggernaut, I doubt very (very) much if jockeys looking over their shoulders for positions of the stablemate - and then shifting ground - would be tolerated in Australia. And the jockeys would be made well aware by stewards BEFORE the race (as a matter of fact) that all horses must run on their merits - to win - and no team tactics would be tolerated.
Here is a replay of the 2006 Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes that brought about the rule change. Does Frankie have a case?:
George Washington: brilliant but controversial Ballydoyle champion
(photo: newmarketracecourse.com)
Aidan O'Brien was fined £5,000 and both jockeys were banned for 7 days. The result of the Juddmonte International Stakes was not affected by the outcome.
O'Brien was fined as he had failed to provide adequate instructions to the riders concerning the rules of racing.
The BHA's team tactics Rule 153 (iv) which states: "a rider shall not make a manoeuvre in a race in the interest of another horse in common ownership...whether or not such a manoeuvre caused interference or caused his horse to fail to achieve the best possible placing".
"However, I would like to stress that in reaching their conclusions the panel made clear that there was no attempt to cheat, simply that the breaches occurred due to ignorance of the details of the rule in question." - Paul Struthers, BHA public relations manager.
With the multiple entries of Ballydoyle in the feature races there have been many instances where one of the stable runners (sometimes numbering four or five entries) will start at 100/1 (or more) and dictate a fast pace from the front - even if the best (even if remote) chance for success from this horse has been a patient ride in the past.
I suppose all of this is working in favour of the Ballydoyle team while they train and prepare horses suited to these tactics. But if (an Australian equivalent) they produced a horse like Might And Power - no doubt then the other Ballydoyle runners would not attempt to take on the stable champion.
And having a truly run race is fine in theory - provided you are not the trainer of a frontrunner.
A horse should be entered into a race with the chance and opportunity to win. Red Rock Canyon not only made the pace for Duke Of Marmalade, but it did appear that Colm O'Donoghue did look over his shoulder as his horse began to wilt to ensure a safe passage through for his stablemate.
And to further muddy the waters there were comments made by Johnny Murtagh that a pre-race plan was arranged with O'Donoghue. Colm O'Donoghue would later admit that at the hearing with the BHA that he did indeed act in the interests of Duke Of Marmalade - but claimed that he was unaware of the team tactics rule.
(say, what's that about ignorance of the law being no excuse!?)
Johnny Murtagh was found guilty by the BHA in acting contrary to the proper conduct of racing - but not the integrity of racing.
This was the first hearing held under the BHA newly updated "team tactics" rule. These rules were adapted in 2006 after the running of the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes when Ballydoyle had multiple entries with favourite and outsider. George Washington would go on to win for O'Brien - but Frankie Dettori clashed heatedly with O'Brien after the race as he felt that he had been denied a fair chance on his mount Librettist when it was carried wide when rounding the home turn by Ballydoyle outsider Ivan Denisovich.
"We use pacemakers to make an even gallop and not to hinder or favour any other horse. The last thing we want is to win any race anywhere if it was unfavourably won. We would prefer not to win any of those Group Ones if they were won unfavourably and they would not mean anything to us." - Aidan O'Brien.
When the bans start is still subject to appeal (if lodged) - but it will not affect Johnny Murtagh's ride in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in Paris on October the 5th.
As much as I am in admiration of the Ballydoyle juggernaut, I doubt very (very) much if jockeys looking over their shoulders for positions of the stablemate - and then shifting ground - would be tolerated in Australia. And the jockeys would be made well aware by stewards BEFORE the race (as a matter of fact) that all horses must run on their merits - to win - and no team tactics would be tolerated.
Here is a replay of the 2006 Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes that brought about the rule change. Does Frankie have a case?:
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