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Racing NSW Stewards yesterday continued an inquiry opened on Thursday, 9 January 2025 in respect to apprentice Amy O’Driscoll’s riding of Ledecky’s Dream in Race 5 conducted at Murrumbidgee Turf Club (Wagga Racecourse) on that day.

Evidence today was taken from Amy O’Driscoll and her master Donna Scott, trainer of Ledecky’s Dream, Heath McLean and Racing NSW Veterinary Officer, Dr Ellie Merritt.

A report conducted by Racing NSW Form and Betting Steward, Justin Dinopoulos was provided which did not reveal any integrity concerns and sectional analysis of the race were also considered.

Charge 1 – AR129(2): Running and handling

The details of the charge being that as the rider of Ledecky’s Dream which was engaged in Race 5 (Southern Cross Austereo Benchmark 58 Handicap – Heat of the Rising Star Series, 1600m) at Murrumbidgee Turf Club's race meeting conducted at Wagga on Thursday, 9 January 2025, apprentice Amy O’Driscoll did fail to take all reasonable and permissible measures on that mare throughout the said race to ensure that Ledecky’s Dream was given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible place in the field, in that by reason of all or part of the following particulars;

1) After crossing Great Week near the 1400m and assuming the leading position and when Ledecky’s Dream continued to set a very fast early pace, she failed to make sufficient endeavours to restrain Ledecky’s Dream between approximately the 1400 metres and 800 metres in an attempt to set a slower and more sustainable pace, when it was both reasonable and permissible to do so, which ultimately resulted in Ledecky’s Dream setting a very fast pace through that section of the race.

2) From approximately the 800m and whilst leading Great Week by an approximate margin of 20 lengths and holding a further approximate 10 length margin over the remainder of the field, she rode her mount along when it was both reasonable and permissible to ride Ledecky’s Dream more conservatively having regard to the very fast pace set by Ledecky’s Dream during the early and middle sections of the race.

3) As a result of the manner in which she rode Ledecky’s Dream detailed in particulars 1 and 2, Ledecky’s Dream was not given full opportunity to win or obtain the best possible placing in the field.

Plea: Guilty

Charge 2 – AR132(7)(a)(ii): Limits on the use of a whip by a rider

The particulars of the charge being:

1) As the rider of Ledecky’s Dream in Race 5 at Murrumbidgee Turf Club's Wagga race meeting on Thursday, 9 January 2025, she did strike her mount on 13 occasions prior to the 100m. Which is 8 times over the permitted amount prior to the 100m.

Plea: Guilty

Penalty

The following penalty considerations were taken into account:

• Guilty pleas for both charges
• Relative inexperience
• First breach of both rules
• Objective seriousness of the breaches
• Historical racing manners of Ledecky’s Dream
• Aggravating factors of the post-race veterinary findings of Ledecky’s Dream
• The purpose of issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image, interests and welfare of the Thoroughbred Racing Industry

Charge 1 – 4 weeks suspension of permit to ride in races (reduced to 3 weeks)

Having regard to her guilty plea and other relevant considerations, including Amy O’Driscoll’s inexperience. Her permit to ride in races was suspended for a period to commence immediately and to expire on Thursday 13 February on which day she may ride.

Charge 2 – 1 week suspension of permit to ride in races

Stewards ruled that the penalty for Charge 2 is to be served wholly concurrent with the penalty imposed for Charge 1.

Relevant Rules

AR 129 Running and handling

- L.J. Martin (Racing NSW Chief Steward-Southern Districts Racing Association)