Apprentice Talia Rodder is facing a handling charge after adopting aggressive tactics on the Robbie Laing-trained Serene Tanie who finished second last behind stablemate Maquina at Moonee Valley.
Stewards took into account the hot pace Serene Tanie set in the Corporate Interiors Handicap (1500m) before charging Rodder with failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures to ensure her mount had full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field.
Stewards claimed that from the 1100m to the 800m Rodder failed to make sufficient effort to restrain her mount and from the 800 metres allowed the four-year-old mare to stride forward.
They also asserted that passing the 600 metres Rodder placed Serene Tanie under further pressure by riding the mare along.
The inquiry established that the first 1000 metres was run in 59.59 seconds and the first 800m in 47.73s.
Serene Tanie only ran at Moonee Valley because she was unable to race at Cranbourne’s twilight meeting on Friday when the last two events were abandoned because of bad weather and state of the track.
Serene Tanie started at $15 on Saturday and weakened to finish second last of the seven runners while second favourite Maquina ($4.60), ridden by apprentice Katelyn Mallyon, stormed home from second last to win easily by 2-1/2 lengths.
Stewards agreed to Laing representing Rodder in the inquiry and after she was charged senior jockey Chris Symons also attended at her request.
Given the amount of evidence that had been taken in the absence of Symons, stewards adjourned the inquiry to next Thursday.
Rodder is apprenticed to Geelong trainer Heath Conners and regularly rides weekends in Tasmania where she was one of the top riders last season.
