Racing Victoria stewards have concluded their inquiry into the fall in the Caulfield Cup clearing all questioned jockeys.
Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil fell from Half Yours and Ohope Wins respectively in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup and were transported to the Alfred Hospital for assessment and observation.
Zahra was discharged that night and McNeil the following morning.
While Half Yours regained his feet and cantered off, Ohope Wins suffered a serious racing in jury and was humanely euthanised.
RV stewards took initial evidence on Saturday from Rachel King, the rider of Green Spaces, apprentice Jabez Johnstone (Kings Valley), assisted by Victoria Jockeys’ Association Chief Executive Matt Hyland, and Ethan Brown (Zahrann).
The inquiry reconvened on Tuesday at RV headquarters with evidence taken from the five jockeys and Hyland.
“Following a thorough review of the evidence of the riders along with Mr Hyland, which was inclusive of numerous camera angles, Stewards could not attribute the incident to the careless actions of any one particular rider,” RV said in a statement.
“The Stewards are of the view that the marginal shifts from both Green Spaces, when under pressure, and Kings Valley resulted in both those runners becoming unbalanced and shifting in ultimately resulting in Half Yours being tightened and falling.
“Further, Stewards were satisfied Zahrann and Half Yours had both established a clear run prior to Half Yours meeting with interference.
“Stewards found that Rachel King and Jabez Johnstone had both taken the necessary corrective measures to straighten and relieve any pressure caused by their mounts to Half Yours.
“Furthermore, Ethan Brown rider of Zahrann had not contributed to Half Yours being tightened for room.
“As is routine practice, prior to resuming racing Stewards conducted an inspection of the track where the incident occurred and found no safety issues with the racing surface.
“Race 10 was subsequently conducted without incident.”
Co-Trainer Tony McEvoy advised that Half Yours had received treatment for lacerations and abrasions and was recovering well, however would now be spelled.
McNeil has subsequently been cleared of any injury and is expected to resume riding at Geelong on Wednesday while Zahra was due to again meet with his doctors on Tuesday, with a decision on his likely return to riding expected after that.
