Tony Martin© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Tony Martin was fined 2,000 euro over the running of Pyromaniac who finished sixth in the Qualified Riders' race in Killarney this evening.
In addition, jockey Patrick McGuigan was handed a seven-day suspension and Pyromaniac was banned from racing for 42 days, which rules him out of the Galway Festival.
The stewards report is below:
The Stewards enquired into the running and riding of Pyromaniac, ridden by Mr P.G. McGuigan, and trained by A.J.Martin.
Evidence was heard from the rider and trainer concerned. Mr P.G. McGuigan, stated that he was employed by Mr A.J. Martin and was familiar with his mount Pyromaniac. He explained that he was instructed to jump his mount off and give him cover, let him travel and creep away until entering the straight where he was to do his best from thereon.
He confirmed that he rode as instructed until his mount began to hang around the bottom bend and hung further to the left in the straight to the extent that his mount got unbalanced which in his opinion affected his overall performance.
He added that he had used the whip down the left shoulder to try and straighten his mount but found this to be pointless. He felt that his mount was normal apart from the hanging and consequently he refrained from riding the animal to his maximum strength.
He accepted that he had failed to report that his mount had hung as he was obliged by Rule 213.
A.J.Martin, confirmed the instructions but elaborated on these by instructing the rider to ride three or four horses off the rail and to finish on the outside doing the best that he can.
He explained that because of the rider's inexperience that he did not want the whip used behind the saddle.
On viewing the video, A.J. Martin expressed his satisfaction with the horse and rider until the closing stages but felt from then on that the rider should have hit his mount a few strong hits down the shoulder to pull him together and get him to straighten.
He added that his horses had been under a cloud recently and ran this animal today to test the water without applying cheekpieces or blinkers which had been used in the past.
He felt that a more experienced rider should have finished third. He accepted that he had failed to comply with Rule 213 by reporting at the first instance that his charge had hung during this race.
The Stewards also received a report from the Turf Club Veterinary Officer who stated that Pyromaniac was post-race normal. Samples were taken for analysis.
Mr A.J. Martin informed the Stewards that he did not have his charge examined with an endoscope post race as he was satisfied with his well being including recent blood tests.
Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards were of the opinion that Mr P.G.McGuigan was in breach of Rule 212 by making insufficient effort and therefore suspended him for seven race days.
They further found that Mr P.G. McGuigan was in breach of Rule 213 by failing to report at the first instance that his mount had hung and therefore cautioned him concerning his responsibility in this regard.
The Stewards were of the opinion that Mr A.J. Martin was in breach of Rule 212 by using the racecourse as a training ground and fined him 2,000 euro and furthermore suspended Pyromaniac for 42 race days.
