Jamie Kah’s Spring Carnival has been thrown into disarray after the top jockey was on Thursday found guilty of a charge of failing to give one of her mounts every possible opportunity to obtain the best finishing position.
The Victorian Racing Tribunal suspended Kah for three weeks, stemming from charges issued by Racing Victoria stewards in relation to her ride on Let’Sfacethemusic in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield on August 31.
Kah’s ban is to commence after next Saturday, September 28, and runs through until October 19, meaning she misses the Turnbull Stakes meeting (Oct 5), Caulfield Guineas Day (Oct 12) and either Caulfield Cup Day or The Everest meeting in Sydney (Oct 19).
Kah will be free to ride again on Sunday, October 20.
The VRT panel found Kah guilty under AR129(2) with stewards having taken exception to her ride at two points from the 175m to the finish of the 1200m event.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Let’sfacethemusic finished fifth, beaten 4-1/2 lengths as an $8.50 chance, in the McNeil Stakes.
Kah cited Let’sfacethemusic’s inexperience and the extremely windy conditions of the day among the reasons for her reluctance to take any gaps the stewards considered there, but the VRT agree with the stewards’ assertion that she was guilty of the charges issued.
“We are satisfied that between the 175 metres and approximately the 100-metre mark there was sufficient gap and opportunity for you to ride your mount with sufficient vigour or purpose to improve the position,” VRT deputy chair Judge Kathryn Kings said.
“We are satisfied that this ride did not simply involve a mere error of judgement on your part but when viewed objectively the failure to take the run which presented itself, and was available to be taken for approximately eight strides, represents a breach of rule 129(2) and was a departure from the standards of racing to be expected of a rider of your standing.
“We acknowledge that the horse raced keenly at the early stages, but during the relevant period the horse raced tractably.
“Further, in relation to your ride in the last 75 metres of the race, we are satisfied that you failed to ride your mount with sufficient vigour when it was reasonable and permissible to do so.
“While we acknowledge the evidence of the historical racing manners of each horse, we are satisfied that you did not use sufficient vigour or purpose and therefore not giving your horse every opportunity to obtain a possible place in the field.”
Kah is equal leader in the Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership with Mark Zahra, having ridden 14 winners for the season to date.
She is engaged to ride a host of leading fancies at this Saturday’s Underwood Stakes meeting at Caulfield including favourites Another Wil (Race 5), Commemorative (Race 6) and Saint George (Race 7).
Damien Oliver dissects Jamie Kah’s ride aboard Let’sfacethemusic which is the subject of a stewards’ inquiry 🧐#TheWrap pic.twitter.com/QpULKYrbak
— Racing.com (@Racing) August 31, 2024
