The Referrals Committee, John Moloney (in the Chair), John Powell and Sean Barry met at the Turf Club, The Curragh, Co. Kildare on 4th October 2012 to consider the referral of John Joseph Murphy, trainer of Burnt Sienna, following the running of the Moyglare 50 EBF (Fillies) Maiden at the Curragh on 9th September 2012, where he was referred for possible breach of Rule 213, as the Stewards were of the opinion that he failed to report something that may have affected Burnt Sienna on her previous run.

Evidence was heard from John Joseph Murphy. 

In his evidence John Joseph Murphy said that he was fully aware of Rule 213 as he had been found in breach of it on a previous occasion.  He said that Burnt Sienna had slight sore shins after she ran at Naas but that he continued to train the horse as he didn’t regard the problem as serious.  However after a week she had developed sore shins and at that stage he stopped training her and put her out in the field and gave her a fortnight off.  He said he didn’t think the problem was serious enough to report.  However he now accepted that he should have reported the problem.

Having considered the evidence, the Committee found that John Joseph Murphy was in breach of Rule 213 on the basis that Mr. Murphy’s authorised representative, Eamonn O’Donnabhain had used the excuse of sore shins to the Stewards at the Curragh on 9th September, when providing an explanation at a running and riding enquiry.  The Committee fined John Joseph Murphy €400 and ordered that he pay a contribution of €250 towards the Turf Club’s costs.

The case was presented by Conal Boyce, Wilkinson & Price Solicitors, Naas, Co. Kildare.