1.40 Leopardstown 11/09/21

Today was really a case of what jockeys will do, or to be more accurate, what they’ll allow, when the stakes are at their utmost.

If we took the opinion of the “two many uses of whips” people calling for sanctions on the horses/results at least two of the winning horses today would have been disqualified.

Separately, and more importantly, it shows the rules of racing should never be so strict as some would want. They’re covering everything from low grade midweek handicaps to the best horses being urged on for everything. They’re general rules, put to a strict purpose, trying to make their best of horses, jockeys and trainers that can have a twenty furlong winner clear ahead in one races, with no competition, or four horses within a neck where the smallest detail could have changed the entire result.

If you’re willing to accept the horses, when it counts (and figuring out when it counts is part of the game) are doing their best, then you have to accept that there can never be such a rigorous interpretation that all gamesmanship, jockeying and angles are covered.

If racing according to “rules” was perfect St Mark’s Basilica should have been disqualified, or demoted, according to me. He caused Tarnawa to miss the break/gain ground at 1.5f out, the most important part of that race. I had 50p on Tarnawa. I’m annoyed that Tarnawa didn’t get a fair race, but it’s what we have and accounting for every other possibility would be chaos.

For the recors the Leopardstown Stewards’ Report reads as follows:

The Stewards enquired into possible interference inside the final furlong involving Champers Elysees, ridden by S.B. Kelly, placed sixth, Flirting Bridge, ridden by C.D. Hayes, unplaced, Mother Earth, ridden by R.L. Moore, placed third, No Speak Alexander, ridden by S. Foley, placed first and Shale, ridden by G.M. Ryan, unplaced, where it appeared interference may have occurred. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. S.B. Kelly stated that he had to sit for a stride but it made no difference to his finishing position. C.D. Hayes stated that his horses run was finished when he had to check. R.L. Moore stated that he received strong pressure from his outside. S. Foley stated that his mount leaned left when he used his whip but he corrected her as soon as he was able. G.M. Ryan stated that the horses on his outside interfered with his run and he had to check. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards made no alteration to the judges placings. However, they did find S. Foley in breach of Rule 214 in that he had ridden carelessly and considering his record they suspended him for 5 racedays.

Make of that what you will, but S. Foley seems adept at telling a good story.

What goes around. No point Keane moaning when his infringement was far worse. The penalties have to be much harder to deter the jockeys. Three week bans might concentrate the mind. Funny how trainers only moan when it happens to them them are like Arsene Wenger when they dont see it when their jockey does it. Laughable.