Aldo Domeyer might have started the new Hong Kong season with two winners but he landed a four-meeting suspension for causing interference in when winning Race 5 aboard Sunshine Warrior.
The stewards deferred the declaration of the weigh-in as they were of the view an incident occurred near the 50m mark which cast doubt on whether Sunshine Warrior should be declared the winner of the race.
Aldo Domeyer – looking forward to a top season (Pic – Chase Liebenberg)
Subsequently, jockey Joao Moreira, the rider of second-placed Casimiro, lodged a protest against Sunshine Warrior being declared the winner, alleging interference over the concluding stages.
After taking evidence from all parties concerned and after viewing the videos, it was established that in the straight Sunshine Warrior had come from some distance behind Casimiro to race on terms approaching the 50m mark.
It was further found that approaching the 100m Sunshine Warrior commenced to shift in and shifted in a number of horses before making heavy contact with Casimiro approaching the 50m, resulting in the runner-up becoming badly unbalanced and Moreira also becoming badly unbalanced and being unable to ride his mount out over the concluding stages.
While the margin between the two horses at the finish of the race was 0.75 lengths, the stewards were of the opinion the margin was significantly greater than it would have been if not for the significant contact between the two horses.
However, having regard to the manner in which Sunshine Warrior had come from some lengths behind Casimiro to race on terms with that horse at the time of the contact, the stewards could not be satisfied that if not for the contact between the two horses, Casimiro would have won the race.
Accordingly, the objection was overruled and weighed-in declared on the numbers semaphored by the judge.
At a subsequent inquiry, Domeyer pleaded guilty to a charge of “careless riding”. Domeyer was advised that the stewards had considered charging him with “reckless riding”, however, in the circumstances, they were satisfied that a charge of “careless riding” was appropriate despite the fact there was high level of carelessness exhibited by him, particularly considering the amount of ground that Sunshine Warrior had shifted in prior to making contact with Casimiro and that he had used the whip on Sunshine Warrior after that horse made contact with Casimiro.
The stewards considered in the circumstances that the appropriate penalty was for Domeyer’s licence to ride in races to be suspended for a period to commence on Sunday, 15 September 2019 and to expire on Thursday, 26 September 2019 on which day he may resume race riding. During that period, there are four race meetings scheduled to be conducted in Hong Kong.
While Lyle Hewitson was happy that three of his five mounts finished in the money, he too learned the stewards in Hong Kong are particularly strict when he was given a “severe warning” after the running of Race 1 where he rode Gold Velvet.
Two other runners were cramped for galloping room because Hewitson’s mount shifted in. The SA champion was called in and was told that in similar circumstances to ensure that he makes every endeavour to prevent his mounts from shifting ground at the start.
His mount also shifted ground near the 1500m mark causing Regency Gem to be cramped and “Hewitson was severely reprimanded and told that in similar circumstances he must ensure that he is properly clear when shifting ground”.
- Hong Kong Jockey Club
