The Appeals Body, Mr. Peter M. Allen (Chair), Mr. John Murphy and Mr. Anthony Byrne convened at the Offices of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board on Thursday 26th October 2023 to consider the appeal of Mr. Jack W. Davison, Trainer of Yamalia Star, against the decision of the Stewards at Killarney on the 30th of September 2023.
On the day, following the running of The Tote Never Beaten by SP Apprentice Handicap, the Raceday Stewards enquired into possible interference inside the final furlong involving Yamalia Star, ridden by J.J.G. Ryan, placed second, and Timeless Piece, ridden by S.T. McCullagh, placed first, where it appeared interference may have occurred. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards found that interference had occurred but made no alteration to the Judge’s placings and took no further action.
The grounds of appeal lodged by Mr. Davison, were that the Raceday Stewards erred in their decision not to reverse the placings after interference had occurred.
At the Appeal Hearing, evidence was heard from Mr. Davison, Trainer of Yamalia Star, Mr. Ryan, Rider of Yamalia Star, Mrs. Harrington, Trainer of Timeless Piece and Mr. McCullagh, Rider of Timeless Piece. The Committee also watched a recording of the race.
Mr. Davison stated that in his opinion the interference was coupled with intimidation to his horse at a crucial time of the race. Mr. Davison said that he believed that his filly would still get back up to win the race but she just failed to do so and therefore the interference was the difference between winning and losing the race.
Mr. Ryan said that his mount is a big filly and is a real galloper who was only getting going in the closing stages of the race. Mr. Ryan accepted he never felt he had to check or stop riding at any point but did feel his mount had lost all momentum as a result of the bump he received from Mr. McCullagh’s mount. Mr. Ryan explained that although his mount did start to run on again the finishing line just came too soon for her and the interference cost him the race.
In her evidence, Mrs. Harrington stated that she found it hard to see any significant contact between the two horses and it was no more than possibly brushing off each other. Mrs. Harrington added that Timeless Piece is a very small and light filly and, in her opinion, there was no intimidation.
In his evidence, Mr. McCullagh said that he felt he won the race snugly on very testing ground. Mr. McCullagh felt that Mr. Ryan’s mount may have brushed off his mount and that the track alignment does tend to bring horses towards the inside in the last 150 yards but Mr. McCullagh said that he maintained his racing line at all times and was a comfortable winner of the race.
Having considered the evidence, the Appeals Body dismissed the appeal and the result on the day stands.
The appeal was presented by Mr. Jack W. Davison, Trainer of Yamalia Star. The IHRB was represented by Ms. Cliodhna Guy, Head of Licensing, Legal and Compliance.