Latest news with #ReferralsCommittee
Daily Mirror
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Probe launched after photographer 'distracts' Aidan O'Brien horse in race
Whirl's defeat of Kalpana in the Group 1 Pretty Polly Stakes was not as straightforward as it might have been, according to Ryan Moore Racing officials in Ireland have been asked to carry out an investigation into an incident which was alleged to have distracted an Aidan O'Brien runner in a Group 1 race. The filly Whirl had been beaten a neck after a sustained duel with her stablemate Minnie Hauk in the Oaks at Epsom earlier in June. She was second favourite for the Paddy Power Pretty Polly Stakes on Saturday at the Curragh behind the odds-on favourite Kalpana, trained by Andrew Balding. Under a terrific ride from Ryan Moore, Whirl made her Group 1 breakthrough but only after another battle royale, fighting back after Kalpana appeared to have her measure. The winning margin was a length and a quarter at the winning post. O'Brien said afterwards: 'She's an incredible filly. She's just progressed and she loves getting into a fight. 'Obviously we saw that she stays a mile and a half at Epsom. She's absolutely concrete, really. We knew that obviously she wouldn't mind the mile and a quarter as she was very impressive in York when she won the Musidora.' He continued: 'Ryan gave her a brilliant ride, he got the fractions absolutely spot on. It's a difficult thing when you are running a mile-and-a-half filly back at a mile and a quarter. You are trying to spread the stamina out over a mile and a quarter without stretching the elastic too long, but he got it absolutely spot on. 'He got the favourite to challenge him and this filly gets a mile and a half so there was no point turning it into a sprint. It was the plan to spread it out and let the two of them get together and see who was going to be the best. 'As they say 'let the best horse jump the ditch' after that. Two great jockeys, what can I say about Ryan, day in day out he's incredible.' However Moore went on to tell the raceday stewards that Whirl had shied away from a photographer sat close to the track on the other side of the running rail near the winning post. O'Brien said: 'Ryan said he felt 50 yards from the line that she had a look at the camera and he knew he had her then.' The stewards' report said: 'The Raceday Stewards interviewed Brian Kavanagh, Chief Executive of the Curragh Racecourse, under the provisions of Rule 13 (i), in relation to the conduct of a photographer who was within five metres of the inside running rail approximately 140 yards from the winning post who appeared to catch the eye of the winner causing it to shy from her. 'Evidence was heard from Brian Kavanagh who stated that he did not know who the photographer was but accepted that she should not have been there. 'Having considered the evidence the Raceday Stewards referred the matter, without prejudice, to the Referrals Committee for further investigation to allow Mr Kavanagh time to fully investigate the matter.'
BBC News
25-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Hanlon set for racing return following suspension
Irish trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon can make his comeback to racing from Saturday after having his licence suspended for transporting a dead horse in public view in an open initially received a 10-month ban but this was cut to six months after an appeal and he could make an application to suspend the final three months if certain conditions were Referrals Committee met earlier this month to consider his application to review the ban and his licence was restored on February 14 in the knowledge that he would not be able to run any horses until March 1 due to a new ruling."They gave the licence back to me two weeks ago in fairness, but there's a new rule in Ireland that you have to have horses in training for 14 days before you can run them, so we'll be ready to go again from 1 March," said Hanlon on added that he plans to run 2023 King George VI Chase winner Hewick in this year's Grand National instead of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which the 10-year-old is entered for."I think we'll miss the Gold Cup, the National is the plan and has been for a while."The handicapper has dropped him a little bit after his last couple of runs and he gets in the National with 11st 7lb, which I think is a nice weight because it looks like 10st 10lb could be bottom-weight, so he wouldn't be giving loads of weight to anything."As long as we get good ground, that's the main thing, and I'd rather go there fresh than be taking on Galopin Des Champs in the Gold Cup."
