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Racing NSW Stewards today concluded an inquiry opened at Scone racecourse on Sunday 6 August 2023 into jockey R. Hutchings riding of Thief By Night in Race 5 The Coolmore C,G&E Benchmark 58 Handicap, 1100m on that day.

Evidence was taken from licensed jockey R. Hutchings, licensed trainer Mr S. Kavanaugh RNSW Betting Analyst Mr J. Dinopoulos provided a written report on the betting on the event.

After the consideration of all evidence, Hutchings was issued the following charge under AR129(2) -

AR129 Running and Handling

(2) A rider must take all reasonable and permissible measures throughout the race to ensure that the rider’s horse is given full opportunity to win or to obtain the best possible place in the field.

The particulars of the charge being that:

• At the Scone Race Club meeting on 6 August 2023 in Race 5, the Coolmore C,G&E Benchmark 58 handicap 1100m Rory Hutchings was the rider of Thief By Night.
• From inside the 250m until inside the 100m Rory Hutchings did fail to ride his mount with sufficient purpose and vigour to take advantage of a run that was available between Dubliner Boy and Sippity Sip, when it was both reasonable and permissible for him to do so.
• Thief By Night finished fifth in the event 0.13L from the 4^th placegetter Sippity Sip and 2.93L from the winner Golden Fighter and his actions as outlined in particular 2 prejudiced his mount’s chances of winning or obtaining the best possible place in the field.

Plea: Not Guilty

Finding: Guilty

Stewards considered the following matters when assessing penalty –

1. Nature of the offence & the explanation offered.
2. Good disciplinary record in relation to this rule.
3. Personal and professional circumstances.
4. Principle of specific and general deterrence and what message is to be sent to the industry, and greater public, in respect to such conduct.
5. Purpose for issuing penalties as a protective measure for the image and integrity of the thoroughbred Industry.

Stewards were of the opinion that the starting point for the offence be a 6 week suspension of Mr Hutchings’ license to ride in races. Having regard to the mitigating factors, Stewards varied the penalty to a 5 week suspension of his license to ride in races. Such suspension to commence on Saturday 9 September 2023 and expire on Saturday 14 October 2023, on which day he may ride.

Mr Hutchings was advised of his appeal rights.