Matthew Allen has won an appeal against a 28-meeting suspension after the Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board couldn’t be satisfied that he should be held accountable for a Mornington race fall.
Allen had been found guilty of a charge of careless riding on his mount Six Beat in the Bata Shoes Maiden Plate (1207m) last Friday.
Stewards found that near the 300m he made insufficient effort to prevent his mount from having Street Diamond, ridden by Ruth Bradley, racing tight and leaving that runner with insufficient racing room.
Stewards said this resulted in Street Diamond making contact with the running rail, rolling out slightly and then making contact with Six Beat’s hind leg and as a consequence the mare blundered and dislodged Bradley.
Victorian Jockeys Association executive Des O’Keeffe, who appeared on Allen’s behalf at Thursday’s appeal, argued that there were “extenuating circumstances”.
O’Keeffe said he put forward to the RAD Board that the racing manners of Bradley’s mount contributed to the incident and horses racing outside of Allen’s mount played a part by racing very tight and giving Allen no room to move.
O’Keeffe also put forward that the positioning of the running rail was at an angle which moved Bradley’s horse outwards at the point where the interference occurred.
The RAD Board, chaired by Judge Russell Lewis, couldn’t be satisfied that Allan should be held accountable for the interference and subsequent fall and allowed the appeal.
AAP TURF
