Victorian Jockeys Association chief Des O’Keeffe has described a six-week suspension for apprentice Talia Rodder on a running and handling charge as tantamount to “killing Bambi”.
Stewards charged Rodder, 27, over her ride on the Robbie Laing-trained Serene Tanie at Moonee Valley last Saturday and found her guilty at an adjourned inquiry on Thursday.
She was charged 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 Corporate Interiors Handicap (1500m).
Serene Tanie led at a speed the stewards deemed too fast and faded to finish second last to stablemate Maquina who came from near the tail of the seven-horse field to win.
O’Keeffe said Rodder, who is indentured to Geelong trainer Heath Conners, was hurt by the stewards’ decision and would lodge an appeal.
“She is a very principled person and bitterly disappointed and extremely concerned because, in her eyes, her integrity has been attacked,” O’Keeffe said.
“To put it graphically what they have successfully done today is pretty much kill Bambi.”
O’Keeffe said the result of Rodder’s appeal could have ramifications for every jockey in the state after it was conceded at the inquiry Rodder had made an error of judgment.
“Every Victorian jockey should be intently interested in the outcome of the appeal because the decision to find a three-kilo claiming apprentice, who has ridden one winner in the Melbourne metropolitan area, guilty today of an error of judgment is not our understanding of the intent of rule AR135b,” O’Keeffe said.
O’Keeffe said there appeared to be no allowance for an apprentice, or any rider, to make a mistake.
“Every rider at Bendigo today and Kyneton and Moonee Valley tomorrow and Sandown on Saturday and Cranbourne on Sunday should be fairly nervous going to the races in case they make an error.”
Peter Jurkovsky, acting for Rodder, and Laing both gave further evidence at Thursday’s stewards inquiry.
Racing Victoria form analyst, Andre Kassay, also gave evidence concerning the sectional times of the race.
Stewards charged Rodder on the grounds that after having asked Serene Tanie to do significant work in the early stages to take up a forward position, she failed to make sufficient effort to restrain the mare between the 1100 and 800 metres.
They also found that from the 800 metres she allowed her mount to stride forward and passing the 600 metres she placed the horse under further pressure.
Stewards explored the possibility of team riding but they found insufficient evidence to suggest there had been any collusion by Laing to give instructions to Rodder to ride in a manner that would benefit the chances of stablemate Maquina.
AAP TURF
