Kah handed three-week suspension
Jamie Kah’s Spring Carnival has been thrown into disarray after the jockey was on Thursday banned for three weeks having been found guilty of a charge of failing to give one of her mounts every possible opportunity to obtain the best finishing position.
The Victorian Racing Tribunal (VRT) suspended Kah from September 29 to October 19 inclusive, stemming from charges issued by Racing Victoria stewards in relation to her ride on the unplaced Let’sfacethemusic (I Am Invincible) in the McNeil Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Caulfield on August 31.
The VRT panel found Kah guilty under AR129(2) with stewards having taken exception to her ride at two points from the 175 metres to the finish of the race.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Let’sfacethemusic finished fifth, beaten 4.6 lengths as an $8.50 chance.
Kah cited Let’sfacethemusic’s inexperience and the extremely windy conditions of the day among the reasons for her reluctance to take any gaps the stewards considered there, but the VRT agreed with the stewards’ assertion that she was guilty of the charges issued.
“We are satisfied that between the 175 metres and approximately the 100-metre mark there was sufficient gap and opportunity for you to ride your mount with sufficient vigour or purpose to improve the position,” VRT deputy chair Judge Kathryn Kings said.
“We are satisfied that this ride did not simply involve a mere error of judgement on your part but when viewed objectively the failure to take the run which presented itself, and was available to be taken for approximately eight strides, represents a breach of rule 129(2) and was a departure from the standards of racing to be expected of a rider of your standing.
“We acknowledge that the horse raced keenly at the early stages, but during the relevant period the horse raced tractably.
“Further, in relation to your ride in the last 75 metres of the race, we are satisfied that you failed to ride your mount with sufficient vigour when it was reasonable and permissible to do so.
“While we acknowledge the evidence of the historical racing manners of each horse, we are satisfied that you did not use sufficient vigour or purpose and therefore not giving your horse every opportunity to obtain a possible place in the field.”
Kah is equal leader in the Victorian Metropolitan Jockeys’ Premiership with Mark Zahra, having ridden 14 winners for the season to date.
She is engaged to ride a host of leading fancies at this Saturday’s Underwood Stakes meeting at Caulfield including favourites Another Wil (Street Boss), Commemorative (I Am Invincible) and Saint George (Roaring Lion).