Josh Parr has been told his ride on an odds-on favourite wasn’t up to scratch but Racing NSW stewards have found nothing untoward in betting on the race in question.
Stewards resumed an inquiry on Saturday, three weeks after Godolphin colt Roheryn ($1.50) finished second to Chess Master ($9.50) who was tipped on a website operated by Parr’s manager John Walter.
The stewards investigation accepted evidence from Walter he tipped Chess Master based on value and that he had not backed the horse.
“I believed Roheryn was the horse to beat but Chess Star was the best punt because of the price available,” Walter said.
There was nothing to suggest any unusual betting patterns on the race but stewards were still critical of Parr for not making an effort to improve Roheryn’s position between the 700 and 600 metres of the race,
“… you should have improved to the outside and placed your horse under more pressure,” Van Gestel said.
Given the circumstances, Van Gestel said they could not be satisfied Parr’s lack of initiative at that point would have made a difference to the result.
Chess Master finished four lengths in front of Roheryn who made up many lengths in the straight from last.
