John Joseph Murphy / Goldplated
Galway, 29th August 2011
The Referrals Committee, Judge Tony Hunt (in the Chair), Ms. Meta Osborne and Martin O’Donnell met at the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on 6th September 2011 to consider a referral by Denis Egan, Chief Executive of the Turf Club, in respect of the apparent improvement in form of Goldplated, trained by John Joseph Murphy, in the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap on 29th August 2011 as compared to her previous run at Galway on 25th July where she finished 6th of nine and was beaten 24 lengths. The Stewards on the day were unable to proceed with an enquiry because the trainer was not available, nor did he have an authorized representative available.
Evidence was heard from John Joseph Murphy and from Garry O’Gorman, Senior Turf Club Flat Handicapper. Recordings of the horse’s run at Galway and her previous run at Galway were also viewed.
In his evidence, John Joseph Murphy accepted that an Authorised Representative had not been appointed in accordance with the provisions of Rule 147 (v). He said he had completed the necessary paperwork but that his representative had failed to lodge the notification with the Clerk of the Scales before the rider had weighed out. The notification was only brought to the attention of the Stewards when they requested Mr. Murphy or his Authorised Representative to attend the improvement in form Enquiry.
In relation to the improvement in form, John Joseph Murphy said he had no explanation. He said that the filly was perfect on the morning after her previous run and it was the only blip in her performances as she has now won four of her last five races.
Garry O’Gorman told the Committee that the filly’s penultimate run was too bad to be true with the result that her handicap rating wasn’t adjusted. He described the filly as progressive.
Having considered the evidence the Committee noted that John Joseph Murphy had accepted that he was in breach of Rule 147 (v) and fined him €130.
They accepted that he couldn’t explain why the filly had run unaccountably badly at Galway and on the basis of the evidence presented they made no finding that he was in breach of any rule. However they asked that his explanation be noted in the event that anything further comes to light in the future which necessitates the case being re-visited.
The case was presented by Denis Egan, Chief Executive. John Joseph Murphy was represented by Andrew Coonan, Coonan Cawley Solicitors, Naas, Co. Kildare.