The National Horseracing Authority confirms that an Appeal was held in Johannesburg on 15 November 2019, against the finding and the penalty relating to a contravention of Rule 72.1.11 imposed by an Inquiry Board on 8 August 2019.

BACKGROUND:

At an Inquiry held at its offices in Turffontein on 8 August 2019, Jockey M Yeni was charged with a contravention of Rule 72.1.11, in that whilst riding the horse MR GREENLIGHT, he intimidated and interfered with Jockey L Hewitson, when he took his hand off his left side rein and placed it on Jockey Hewitson’s arm, in the second race at Hollywoodbets Greyville Racecourse on 27 July 2019.

Mr Yeni pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Inquiry Board found Mr Yeni guilty of the charge.

In determining a suitable penalty, the Inquiry Board balanced Mr Yeni’s factors in mitigation with the need to protect the integrity of horseracing, the public’s perception regarding racing control and from circumstances which have the potential to cause danger to both horse and rider. Accordingly, the Inquiry Board imposed a suspension from riding in races for a period of 90 (ninety) days.

Mr Yeni was afforded the right of Appeal against the finding and the penalty imposed.

The National Horseracing Authority and Mr Yeni were legally represented at the Appeal hearing.

The Appeal Board found as follows:

The Appeal Board dismissed the Appeal in respect of the guilty finding by the Inquiry Board as well as the penalty imposed by the Inquiry Board.

The Appeal Board noted that because of the seriousness of the contravention by Mr Yeni, if appropriate evidence in respect of aggravation of penalty had been led on behalf of The National Horseracing Authority, the Appeal Board would have been prepared to consider interfering with the penalty imposed, by increasing same.  However, the Appeal Board elected not to interfere with the penalty imposed by the Inquiry Board of a suspension from riding in races for a period of 90 (ninety) days.

The Appeal Board ordered that the prescribed fee be forfeited in terms of rule 85.5.8. The decision of the Appeal Board was unanimous.

– NHA

Gold Circle and Hollywoodbets are pleased to announce that in an exciting change, beginning 1 December 2019 and on a trial basis for 3 months, the carded horse number will reflect the barrier draw of the horse for all races in KwaZulu-Natal. In a change from the traditional top-weight-down, or alphabetical order, horses will now be carded according to barrier positions, regardless of the allocated weights.

Whilst this breaks with the traditional system used to allocate card numbers in South African racing, it will serve the purpose of making it easier for newcomers and racing fans in general to follow their selections from the saddle cloth number and standardised saddle cloth colour, through to the starting stalls where the number and colour will be clearly displayed.

Reserve runners will no longer be allocated a barrier draw, but should there be a scratching, the reserve will automatically take up the barrier of the scratched horse that it replaces.

“This move aligns our racing with international standards currently used in the USA and South America, and will make our KZN product more attractive to international racing punters, which in turn will increase turnovers in commingled pools”, said Raf Sheik, Racing Executive of Gold Circle.

Brand and Communications Manager for Hollywoodbets, Devin Heffer, added “As partners with Gold Circle, this is another joint initiative to differentiate KZN Racing, to generate interest and provide something new to our current racegoers, and make racing brighter, easier to follow and more appealing to newcomers to our wonderful sport. This trial period will run in conjunction with the Hollywoodbets Sizzling Summer Challenge, details of which will be released soon.

The finish of the Tabonline.co.za Handicap at Kenilworth yesterday would have done credit to any of the scrums in the Rugby World Cup with horses and jockeys being dangerously bounced against each other as if they were made of rubber.

Aqua Bolt was first past the post but he continuously drifted right into the path of those trying to close on him, particularly second-placed Jephthah. What was even more surprising was that the Andre Nel-trained “winner” was hanging into the whip. Normally horses drift away from it.

One of the stipes promptly lodged an objection on behalf of both M.J. Byleveld’s mount and third-placed Brave Tiger. To nobody’s great surprise this was quickly upheld with Jephthah declared the winner, Brave Tiger promoted to second and Aqua Bolt demoted to third. His rider Anthony Andrews did the right thing by having his whip in his right hand but the stipes felt he should have done more to minimise the interference and so he faces a disciplinary hearing.

You might think that a racehorse trainer has a charmed life, paid to go out into the fresh air while the commuter faces living nightmares in the traffic as he battles his (and her) way to work, and is then treated like a celebrity on the racecourse. Mike Robinson revealed that things are very different in real life and that the worrying insecurities of the existence can take years off you.

After Bernard Fayd’Herbe had got up close home on Wendy Hartley’s Happy Wanderer in the 1 200m maiden to give the Philippi trainer his first winner since that glorious treble two months earlier, Robinson said: “The treble feels like a year ago and I was getting worried. The horses were well, their coats were shining and they were all working like bombs but I was starting to doubt myself.”

He won’t now – at least not for a few weeks – but perhaps he could take lessons from Greg Ennion who has suffered plenty worse and learnt, not only to live with it, but how to bounce back and he struck with Etienne Braun’s R75 000 buy Winter Tango in the first.

Ennion said: “The horse was unlucky in his last two starts. In the most recent one he went a furlong too soon and in the previous race he got squeezed out. But he is improving all the time.”

Racing will not switch to the summer course until next month. Nothing unusual about that you might think – it’s the same every year – but Glen Kotzen yesterday queried the established practice.

He said: “It’s summer now so why aren’t we using the summer course? What we are doing, by not using it, is throwing the punter off. Saturday’s Concorde Cup will be completely different over the longer run-in when we come to the Cape Guineas. I know it means using the course more but so be it.”

Course manager Dean Diedericks answered: “This is a question that often comes up but the fact is that the summer course does not recover as well and this is a lot do with the soil temperatures. The extra month that we have on the winter course is a huge help to the summer one.”

By Michael Clower

Vaal Thursday Tips and Race Previews by Andrew Harrison

Race 1
Preview: Weak maiden. TURF MASTER (1) always races handy and could prove difficult to catch of allowed to get away. SHANE (6) has made steady improvement and should enjoy this trip. WHIPPING BOY (7) steps up to this distance for the first time but does have some reasonable form over shorter. ROYAL SIEGE (9) does stay the trip and can finish in the money. (Andrew Harrison: 1-6-7-9).

Race 2
Preview: LEPRECHAUN (10) showed good pace before stopping late at only hs second start. The tongue-tie goes on and he can make good improvement. DUE OF YORK (5) has been expensive to follow but had consistent KZN form. He could do better here. VASEEM (15) was cut into at his second start when sent over a mile. The drop in trip is a concern but he showed up well enough on debut over this trip. ORPHELIN NOIR (11) made a promising debut and should come on from that. (Andrew Harrison: 10-5-15-11).

Race 3
Preview: Tricky race. Janse van Vuuren saddles four competitive runners, best of which could be MAGNIFICUS (5) who has been running on the Hollywoodbets Greyville poly and is showing some improvement. LADY SCARLETINA (15) takes on males but shows a good turn of foot and has a handy weight. SUPREME WIN (16) made a promising debut when very green and is a must inclusion in all exotics. GREY POWER (3) has shown some recent improvement and can upset. (Andrew Harrison: 5-15-16-3).

Race 4
Preview: SINGLE RED ROSE (3) has yet to finish out of the money and must have a chance of fortune sooner rather than later. Pun intended. TARTAN DANCER (4) was a close-up second last Saturday. The blinkers may go back on – keep an eye on the changes.  These two look to be the main protagonists but CLIFTON COUGAR (5) looks set to improve. (Andrew Harrison: 3-4-5).

Race 5
Preview: The De Kock stable is firing on all cylinders and MASSAAQAAT (3) showed up well in his seasonal debut finishing with a rattle. The extra furlong should count in his favour. COSMIC RAY (9) has put in two smart efforts and was a touch unlucky last run. She looks the biggest threat to the selection. ROCK YOU (14) caught the eye on debut when finishing off her race strongly. She has been rested since but must come into the picture. (Andrew Harrison: 3-9-14-1).

Race 6
Preview: Difficult race. TOKYO DRIFT (2) is a little long in the tooth but has put in two promising recent efforts and should go well in this company.  MOVIE MAGIC (5) surprised last run after a disappointing previous effort but his form before that was not bad. He can follow up. LAZARUS TREE (4) was found to have a hoof abscess after his last run so that is best ignored. He had shown signs of coming to hand before that. NORLAND (11) has been showing good pace over further and the drop in trip could see him finish a lot closer. (Andrew Harrison: 2-5-4-11).

Race 7
Preview: The scratching of Hawwaam – insufficient recovery time – rather read, ‘past the test’ – leaves punters with CIRILLO (2). Back from a break and with top form in strong company last season, he may just need this but could prove too classy for his rivals. TIERRA DEL FUEGO (9) proved far too good for the opposition in his comeback run. He gets weight from the top two but could find them a little too classy. CAPTAIN ALDO (4) was no match for Hawwaam last time out but could run into the money again. (Andrew Harrison: 2-9-4).

Race 8
Preview: Wide open but GOLDEN SPIRAL (9) is in cracking form and although taking on stronger here she must have a decent winning chance. SCENT OF EVENING (1) took on a strong field last time out. She takes on a lot weaker here and although she has a big weight she should be competitive. ZULU DAWN (5) has come to hand again and was only run out of it late last time out. LAND OF RUBIES (15) won well on debut but takes a steep rise in class. However, she does have a light weight. ALL OF ME (2) has been racing in Kimberley but has been close-up at her last two. (Andrew Harrison: 9-1-5-2-15).

Race 9
Preview: HIDDEN AGENDA (3) is a seasoned campaigner but has not been out of the money since his last win. He stays the trip and could finally have a change of luck. NIMCHA (2) has improved in blinkers and has only been run out of it late in his last two starts. AT HAND (4) was a comfortable winner under Hailey Turner last Saturday. He does not have the best of draws here and may be scratched. KURT’S APPROVAL (9) has his first run for a new stable. Muzi Yeni stays with the ride and they can go close. (Andrew Harrison: 3-2-4-9).

To take a bet go to www.tabgold.co.za or www.trackandball.co.za

The European Union (EU) has agreed to an audit of South Africa’s bloodstock export protocols and has committed to announce the date of the audit in the next few weeks.

This follows South Africa’s long-standing efforts to get the restrictions on bloodstock exports lifted by the EU.

The South African Equine Health & Protocols (SAEHP) stated recently that all SA’s disease control measures were in place, that they were of a world-class standard, and in fact exceeded all of the EU’s disease control requirements.

However, an impasse occurred because of a trade dispute between the EU and South Africa over poultry, and the EU for several months held firm that no audit regarding horses will be forthcoming while poultry exports to South Africa were closed after the 2017 Avian influenza outbreak.

In a message to Adrian Todd, CEO of SAEHP, the Chief Director of Trade Negotiations, International Trade and Economic Development Division (ITED), Niki Kruger, wrote: “We had a follow-up meeting with the EU yesterday (Monday). The EU confirmed that they will come to do an audit. They will confirm the date within the next few weeks but it will definitely happen. We requested that the audit happens as soon as possible.”

Todd commented: “This is great news, we are almost there. The way everybody in South Africa came together to address the African Horse Sickness case reported near Randjesfontein last week, our movement controls, and the moving of the Ready To Run race showed how effectively we can deal with these issues and this would’ve made an impression on the EU.

“This is an example of what can be achieved by working together. We are delighted, and credit is due to the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for having worked so hard to get us to this stage. Our thanks and appreciation also to the EU for separating the poultry and equine issues.”

– Turf Talk