Harness Racing Victoria (HRV) Stewards today completed an inquiry into the tactics adopted by driver Shayne Cramp on Philtra Phella during the first race at the Ouyen at Mildura race meeting held on 13 June 2014.
The inquiry was adjourned on the day of the race meeting after taking considerable evidence from Mr Cramp.
At the resumption of the inquiry today, Mr Cramp was issued with a charge under Australian Rule of Harness Racing (ARHR) 149(1) which states that ‘a driver shall take all reasonable and permissible measures during the course of a race to ensure that the horse driven by that driver is given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing in the field’.
The particulars of the charge were (1) that at the 1400m, when the pace had been slow in the early stages of the race, Mr Cramp remained in a position three-back on the marker pegs, allowing Philtra Phella to be covered by other horses when it was both reasonable and permissible for Mr Cramp to shift into the running line at that stage; and (2) racing to the 400m Mr Cramp failed to persist in a three-wide move around the field which would have been a reasonable option given the minimal use made of Philtra Phella to that point and allowed Philtra Phella a clear and uninterrupted run to the finish, instead Mr Cramp moved back to a position inside Bella Hotshot and behind Fergus Mactavish which led to Mr Cramp forcing a passage between those two horses causing interference to Bella Hotshot and Philtra Phella subsequently galloping.
Mr Cramp pleaded not guilty to the charge, however presented no further evidence. After considering all the evidence adduced including the explanation of Mr Cramp; the available replays; the early sectional times which incorporated a lead time three seconds slower than average and a first quarter of 33.3 seconds; the exposed form of Philtra Phella and the limited amount of work done by Philtra Phella in the early stages it was determined that the charge could be sustained.
When assessing penalty it was considered that this was Mr Cramp’s third offence under this rule in the preceding 16 months balanced alongside the frequency with which he drives. It was also determined that the level of culpability was in the high range due to Mr Cramp’s experience and ability as a reinsman, taking into account the details of the two reasonable opportunities during the race and also that Philtra Phella carried the weight of public money as a well supported favourite.
At the completion of the inquiry Mr Cramp had his licence to drive in races suspended for a period of eight (8) weeks which will commence at midnight on 5 July 2014.
