The racing public and industry experts have reacted with shock and disbelief after Stipendiary Stewards upheld what looked like an optimistic objection in the first at Turffontein on Saturday.
The Sporting Post was inundated with enquiries and statements this afternoon that included criticism of ‘gross incompetence’ to ‘the most shockingly poor decision made in thirty years’.
Ormond Ferraris – trained the winner
The Ormond Ferraris trained Querari Viking was a convincing winner beating the Mike Azzie-trained first-timer Nordic Storm by 1,10 lengths in the Maiden Plate over 1450m.
The two were drawn alongside each other and at the start Querari Viking is seen coming out quickly but immediately moves towards the rail. Nordic Storm appeared to lack for gate speed and is slightly outpaced as he follows.
At the 300m Querari Viking shifts inwards towards the rail, but is well clear of Nordic Storm.
Karl Zechner – lodged objection
Karl Zechner switches Nordic Storm out and he makes up some ground.
After reviewing the start and the race itself, jockey Karl Zechner lodged an objection which was upheld.
The Sporting Post has viewed video footage of trainer Ormond Ferraris and punters approaching the Stipendiary Stewards boardroom at Turffontein, with comments like ‘bunch of clowns’ heard above a rather smug looking Stipe Khanyile deflecting the approach and returning to his office.
Racing expert and attorney Robert Bloomberg has represented a cross section of jockeys and trainers in a variety of matters and kindly provided this response on request for a comment from the Sporting Post:
Robert Bloomberg – expert opinion
“The explanation tendered by Mr Thulani Khanyile in substantiation of his (and whoever it was who concurred with him) ludicrous, preposterous and diabolical decision is nothing short of mind boggling.
I’m very pleased that he went on national tv as he absolutely buried himself with his stuttering and shameful performance masquerading as a legitimate explanation and everyone can now see exactly how inept and out of his depth he is (I have had indirect dealings with the man on a number of occasions in my capacity as an attorney). The NHA is unfortunately answerable for continually putting him in the position of chair that he sadly occupies from time to time.
My take on the matter is that in regard to the start, Querari Viking jumps inwards, but Nordic Storm had no gate speed in any event so this movement is wholly irrelevant to proceedings other than to comment that incidents like this continually happen at the start.
As for the alleged incident up the straight, Sherman Brown is clear when he shifts slightly to the rail which he is perfectly entitled to do. It’s called race riding. This is not a 400m athletics race where you have to stick to your lane! Once Nordic Storm shifts out for a run, he makes in reality no significant ground on Querari Viking as he wins with quite a bit in hand the 1.1 length winning margin belying his authority.
The most important issue here and which is the telling factor, is that the objection rule states in a nutshell that an objection shall NOT be upheld unless the placed horse (Nordic Storm) but for the interference – I would dispute in any event that here was any interference – WOULD have beaten the horse which caused the interference (Querari Viking). Would means DEFINITIVE CERTAINTY i.e. 100%! There isn’t a 1% chance that Nordic Storm would have won let alone 100%.
NHA CEO Lyndon Barends – commended for quick action
This is an ailing multi-million rand industry that can ill-afford blunders of this magnitude and what is in my professional opinion incompetence of the highest order. The damage that has been done to punters (the initial winner was backed from 3/1 – 14/10) is immeasurable. There must now be repercussions.
I would like to commend the Managing Director of the NHA, Mr Lyndon Barends, for his ensuring the expeditious announcement of an Inquiry into the decision of the stipendiary board. Hopefully appropriate action will be taken.”
Hollywoodbets have already issued a statement that they will be refunding backers of the winning ‘beaten’ horse, Querari Viking.
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