'SHOW CAUSE' NOTICES ISSUED IN INCORRECT APPRENTICE CLAIM CONTROVERSY

By Graham Potter | Tuesday, June 20, 2023

The news that Racing Victoria stewards have issued show-cause notices to connections of twenty-nine horses ridden by apprentice Wiremu Pinn with an incorrect apprentice allowance claim is sure to be a real conversation starter.

It was only discovered after the fact that Pinn, who is in Australia on a three-month loan to Mick Kent, had ridden the horses in question between May 27 and June 12 with a 3kg claim when he was only eligible for a 2kg claim.

It is believed the error came about due to miscommunication between Racing Victoria and New Zealand racing authorities.

Pinn won five races and placed eight times in the twenty-nine starts in which his mounts carried 1kg less than they should have.

RV stewards have today confirmed that show-cause notices had been forwarded to the relevant parties … and further clarified the process to be followed, pointing out that … firstly … under the rules of racing, stewards held a discretionary authority as to whether a horse should be disqualified when an apprentice carried an incorrect claim … and secondly, noting that, "The stewards' determination has not yet been arrived at and will ultimately be taken in the context of the circumstances as a whole, an application and interpretation of the Rules of Racing, and having taken into account each submission from respective trainers and managing owners.”

Last week it was reported that a trainer, acting on owner instructions, was talking about seeking $11,700 compensation after his horse had finished third, a lip behind the second placed runner, ridden by Pinn, in a race at Sandown on June 10 – that amount being the prize-money difference between second and third place.

Further, again from the steward’s statement, “Should, on the completion of their inquiry, the stewards determine that a horse ought be disqualified pursuant to AR 143(13)(b), the question of recovery of prizemoney awarded for the horse's run in the race would be a matter for the RV Board to consider, not the stewards.”