Sean Cormack – “Maybe Piere was just taking a chance…”
Saturday’s incident filled Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge is a race that will be remembered more for the drama in the final 400m than for the shock result that saw Mike Bass’s unfancied Supreme Sunset staying on to beat the more fancied Athina.
Jockey Sean Cormack, who is riding with so much confidence, managed to survive the objection by Athina’s jockey Piere Strydom on the grounds of interference in the latter stages.
Cormack was also fortunate to survive an objection by Robbie Fradd in the Gr1 Sa Classic at the same track a year earlier.
While Saturday’s objection was overruled, it must have been a touch-and-go affair and more proof that there are far better jobs in racing than playing Stipe!
Strydom’s deposit was forfeited and Cormack ended up picking up a seven day suspension.
After riding a winner at Greyville on Sunday, Cormack was questioned by Tellytrack’s Deez Dayanand.
When asked about the objection, he quipped, with a smile: “Maybe Piere was just taking a chance.”
For Cormack, the objection would have brought back the mixed memories of the 2013 Gr1 SA Classic when he rode Paul Lafferty’s Love Struck to a last gasp win over Tellina.
Love Struck and Tellina go head to head in 2013
The two horses came together at the 300m marker, and it appeared that Cormack had switched whip hands to keep his mount on a straight course. In so doing he was alleged to have struck Tellina across the face, thus shortening the colt’s stride as a result. The big horse appeared to regain his stride, but just could not get past Love Struck.
The Stipes overruled Robbie Fradd’s objection.
Saturday’s feature was also a race of mixed fortunes for SA Champion jockey S’manga Khumalo, who was on the receiving end of some stick for his ‘poorly judged’ ride on the hot favourite Majmu, from trainer Mike De Kock and his assistant, Matthew De Kock.
It will be interesting to see whether Khumalo gets another ride from De Kock in a hurry.
The Gr2 Joburg Spring F&M Challenge Stipes Report:
a) PURE POWER raced equipped with alumites (declared 4 October 2014 at 06H52).
b) TOUCH THE SKY Jockey A Aucharuz dropped his crop at the 400 metre mark.
Jockey Aucharuz was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.2 in that he rode the horse TOUCH THE SKY in an unprofessional manner by dropping his crop at approximately the 400 metre mark. Jockey Aucharuz signed an Admission of Guilt and a penalty of a Warning was imposed.
c) MAJMU (AUS) (S Khumalo) continually baulked for a clear run between the 400 metre mark and the finish.
d) At approximately the 200 metre mark SUPREME SUNSET (S Cormack) shifted in resulting in PURE POWER having to ease for a number of strides. Thereafter SUPREME SUNSET continues to shift in making slight contact with ATHINA (P Strydom) who then shifted out making contact with SUPREME SUNSET shortly before the finish line.
Jockey S Cormack was charged with a contravention of Rule 62.2.7 in that he failed to ensure that he did not cause interference to PURE POWER (M Mienie) at approximately the 200 metre mark whilst riding SUPREME SUNSET. Jockey Cormack signed an Admission of Guilt and is suspended from riding in races for a period of seven days.
e) A race review was called into the latter stages of the race.
Thereafter an Objection was lodged by the Jockey P Strydom of the 2nd placed horse ATHINA against the winner SUPREME SUNSET (S Cormack) on the grounds of interference in the latter stages of the race. The Board, after hearing all the evidence and viewing the patrol films of the race, were of the opinion that but for the incident, ATHINA would not have finished in front of SUPREME SUNSET and therefore overruled the Objection. The result stands. Jockey Strydom’s deposit was refunded.
f) SUPREME SUNSET, the winner (S Cormack). Selected for the taking of specimens for analysis. Assistant Trainer R Fayd’ Herbe advised (GT).
