JOCKEY IS HANDED A SIX WEEK BAN AFTER A STEWARD'S INQUIRY INTO THE PERTH CUP RACEFALL INCIDENT

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, January 3, 2023

The first attempt at running the 2023 Perth Cup had the saddest of outcomes when a horse, Chili Is Hot, ultimately had to be euthanised following a two-horse race-fall involving Buster Bash and Chile Is Hot which took place in the home straight shortly after the start in the Group 2, 2400m contest on New Year’s day.

The balance of the field, who had raced on to enter the back-straight, were then alerted as to the situation and the race was duly aborted because of the circumstances playing out in the home straight.

The race has been rescheduled in January 14.

In a sequel to Sunday’s incident, jockey Joseph Azzopardi, the rider of Buster Bash, was issued with a charge of careless riding. Azzopardi was found guilty of the charge and he was handed a six-week suspension.

The official steward’s inquiry report, dated January 3, reads: ‘Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) stewards today concluded an inquiry into the reasons for Chili Is Hot (Peter Knuckey) and Dom To Shoot (Jordan Turner) falling after travelling 200m in the 2023 Perth Cup.

‘Evidence was taken from the following jockeys: Joseph Azzopardi (Buster Bash), Natasha Faithfull (Bad Wolf), Peter Knuckey (Chili Is Hot), Troy Turner (Cockney Crew), Jordan Turner (Dom To Shoot)
and Brad Parnham (Neufbosc).

‘The inquiry also included the vision of the race shown through the Hawkeye Vision System which provided multiple camera angles of the incident including the use of slow motion and zoom functionality.

‘Jockey Joseph Azzopardi was charged with careless riding under AR131(a) with the particulars being that near the 2200m mark he allowed Buster Bash to shift outwards when not clear of Chili Is Hot (P Knuckey) causing that mare to contact the heels of Buster Bash and fall with Dom To Shoot (J Turner) falling in consequence and Neufbosc (B Parnham) and numerous other runners also receiving interference.

‘Mr Azzopardi pleaded guilty to the charge and his licence to ride in races was suspended for a period of six weeks with effect from 1 January 2023.

‘When assessing penalty, stewards considered:

The seriousness of the incident. Resultant consequences with Chili Is Hot sustaining fatal injuries in the fall and jockeys Peter Knuckey and Jordan Turner being dislodged.The significance of the race being a feature Group 2 event where increased penalties apply. The incident resulted in the race being declared void. His prior record under the rule with his most recent careless riding suspensions being incurred in November and July 2022. The degree of carelessness being in the mid range by allowing his mount to shift outwards in the early stages, where the field was compact and riders still finding their positions.The high degree of interference.