In an unusual deviation from normal process, the Turffontein Judge’s ‘final’ decision was overturned by the Stipendiary Stewards after the running of the sixth race on Saturday.
Commentator Nico Kritsiotis called longshot winner Seventh Of June but reversed his call for the second position, fought out between Corrido and Master Magic, after the benefit of the slow motion replay.
Corrido down the inside was awarded second place
The result for second was provisionally posted as a dead heat by the Judge.
It transpired minutes later that the Stipes had overruled him and gone with Corrido in second ahead of Master Magic for third.
Speaking on Tellytrack later in the afternoon, Stipe Ryan Hutcheson explained that while the decision of the Judge was ‘final’, it was subject to ‘confirmation’ by the Stipendiary Board.
There was no word on whether an official objection had been laid (as the rules suggest) or even whether the Judge would be subject to an official inquiry for his error.
The offical Stipes Report will tell us more.
Next time the commentator – especially as they do at Turffontein – allows us to hear the Judge’s call after the slow mo replay, don’t take it as a given until the all clear is posted!
We found this rule…there may be another to be read in tandem with this section…
65.4 As soon as possible after the RACE, the judge shall name the first 6 HORSES past the finishing post or such further number as the SB may instruct him to do, and his placings shall be final unless an OBJECTION to the winner, or any placed HORSE, is made and upheld, provided that this RULE shall not prevent a judge from correcting a mistake, where such correction is made before expiry of the time allowed for the notification of intention to object under RULE 68.2.
65.5 Except where a HORSE’S nose is not visible, the judge shall base his decision exclusively on the HORSE’S nose and if there is a discernible difference he shall not give a dead heat.
65.6 A judge shall satisfy himself as to the correctness of the placings from the photograph. If there is no photograph available due to a failure of the photo-finish camera or if, in the sole opinion of the judge, the images on the photograph are indistinct, then the judge may have regard to the race film to satisfy himself as to the correctness of the placings. If there is no race film available, the judge shall, to the best of his ability determine the placings as his personally observed them. The judge’s decision shall be final and binding.
