A concertino in-race incident in the Vaal third race on Thursday that appeared to have possibly directly impacted the finishing position of the favourite, elicited no race review or further action from the Stipes.
The Sporting Post fielded a few enquiries after the Racing Today Maiden Plate, where the tote favourite Ichacha had suffered interference at a critical time and ended up running a 1,70 length fourth, and out of the Place Accumulator.
Crescendo (Craig Zackey) beats Mystic Vision (Philasande Mxoli) and Two For The Boys (Andrew Fortune) to win the Vaal third (Pic -JC Photos)
The race was was won by the 28-10 Crescendo, who beat the offending 50-1 shot Mystic Vision by 0,40 lengths, with Two For The Boys (66-1) in third, and the favourite Ichacha a head back in fourth. Only 1,70 lengths covered the first four home.
The Stipes reported that at approximately the 300m, TWO FOR THE BOYS (A Fortune) was carried out by ICHACHA (K Matsunyane), which was bumped out by EXPLOSIVE GIFT (M van Rensburg), which in turn was bumped out by MYSTIC VISION (P Mxoli), which ducked out sharply away from the crop. As a consequence of this, ICHACHA (K Matsunyane) was eased and switched inwards.
It was further reported that the Board, after reviewing this incident, was satisfied that Jockey P Mxoli could not have predicted this type of reaction from MYSTIC VISION and therefore took no action against him.
The Chief Stipe on duty advised that there indeed was an incident.
“Ichacha (4th) was bumped out by second place horse. 1,30 lengths between them at the line. Neither Stipes or connections called a race review. Satisfied result is correct,” was his response to the Sporting Post enquiry.
The fact remains that whether Philasande Mxoli could have foreseen his mount’s action, or not, the favourite was undoubtedly hindered, which may have cost him a closer finishing position and that a race review, at the very least, should have been called.
And it becomes a very subjective assessment of whether a horse’s specific actions are predictable, beyond the norms. And why not advise that, given the unpredictability, that Mystic Vision’s racing manners will be monitored in future?
We understand that the owner/s or trainer have every right to object. But they are not always on course, and the Stipes remain the custodians of ensuring a fair outcome. They may have got this one right?
