Jockey Jim Byrne calls for overhaul of Queensland racing’s appeal system
Veteran jockey Jim Byrne has called for changes to Queensland’s failing appeal system, adding the lack of deterrents around careless riding suspensions has increased the danger for riders.
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Multiple premiership-winning jockey Jim Byrne has demanded amendments be made to Queensland’s failing appeal system, believing the lack of deterrents around careless riding suspensions are a disaster waiting to happen.
Byrne said the system, which allows a suspension to be kicked down the road 12-18 months, has created a culture whereby some jockeys are riding in a way that could lead to a serious injury, because there is no deterrent.
At present, there are more than 25 incidents of riding infringements that are either at the internal review stage or waiting for a QCAT hearing and/or determination.
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Racing Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said recently there is still work being done on potential changes to the appeal process, but it seems highly likely the legislation will not be changed until after this year’s state election.
It is understood jockey representatives are set to meet with integrity commissioner Ross Barnett and his deputy Mark Ainsworth on Thursday to discuss if there are any other ways of making the system more workable.
While it has been assumed the internal reviews and then a drawn out QCAT process worked well for riders, Byrne said allowing a jockey to continue riding with multiple suspensions hanging over their head compromises rider safety.
“The system we have here at the moment is just so broken,” Byrne said. “The government won’t step up and fix it, because it’s what they put in place.
“Keep in mind, they have a duty of care to take care of every individual rider.
“The way it is at the moment, that’s not happening. Because guys can continually breach the rules and you still have to compete with them.
“I’m not saying they do it on purpose, but they are being careless, not taking care anymore.
“It’s getting to the stage now, and the stewards will tell you, it’s just messy. There’s absolutely no deterrent.”
Byrne, who has been riding in Brisbane for more than 30 years, says interference in races now is worse than it has been in his entire career.
“Without a doubt. You’ve got some riders that just don’t care,” he said. “The concern for safety is that sooner or later, they are going to bring someone down and cause serious injuries.”
Byrne’s comments follow Larry Cassidy speaking out on Tuesday about “the broken” appeal system after Luke Tarrant was granted a stay of proceedings – despite it being opposed by stewards – on a six-month disqualification for headbutting Cassidy.
“Obviously QRIC’s hands are tied because of the legislation and it’s about time the government did something about this,” Cassidy told Racenet.com.au.
‘Tough nut’ Ljung avoids injury in fall
Emma Ljung walked away unharmed from a scary post-fall as trainer Rex Lipp plotted bigger things for impressive debut winner Bad Barista at Ipswich on Wednesday.
On debut, Bad Barista proved too speedy over the 1100m trip, before failing to take the turn out of the home straight post race and making a beeline for the fence.
Ljung was thrown from the horse and ended up through the fence.
“The horse just got lost. Typical of what happens here at Ipswich with young horses,” Lipp said. “In open spaces, she didn’t get around the corner. But Emma is fine. She got winded. Landed on her feet, then on her back.
“She didn’t want to get in the ambulance. She’s a tough nut.”
The last Lipp saw of his rider was when she was making her way to the carpark to drive herself home. Bad Barista, so named being a son of Spill The Beans, was bred by Dr Trent Lipp, a son of the trainer’s cousin. She was offered for sale at last year’s Magic Millions series but failed to reach a $45,000 reserve.
“(Doctor Lipp) is one of the top emergency doctors in Queensland, if not Australia,” Lipp said. “He bred her and couldn’t get the money for her, so said we will keep her. I asked him to sell a few shares and a couple of my mates came in with him and we’re all happy now.
“I will have a look at what’s around, but I might even give her a spell now. I’ve got a bit of an opinion of her.”
Lipp saddled two runners for two winners, with Real Fine Wine breaking his maiden status earlier in the day. “He did a lot in that first preparation I didn’t even expect him to. He might be a fair horse,” he said.
Stable star Gem Of Scotland is recovering well after a serious injury at the Gold Coast in March and remarkably the trainer says she’s a 90 per cent chance of racing again.
“She’s fine. She’s out into a bigger yard, playing around and showing no signs of soreness,” Lipp said. “She broke part of her hip bone. Luckily it hasn’t displaced. She is going to Gatton within the next month for scans and we will know more after that.”
The trainer has just one runner engaged this Saturday at Doomben, that being All Shiraz in the opening event, and thinks the mare is a good chance of keeping the stable’s winning run going.
MONDAY MAIL
2020’s MOST INSPIRING WIN
Nine months ago Tracey Bartley’s only goal with In Good Time was to save her life, so Saturday’s Ascot Handicap win was a little out of the ordinary for the Wyong-based trainer.
No stranger to success at Eagle Farm, having won the 2007 Stradbroke with Sniper’s Bullet, Bartley has a special fondness for In Good Time, whose racing days looked numbered after a swimming accident last September.
“We were prepping up for the spring. It was a tile in the pool. She got her leg up on the side of the pool and it cut it straight through,” Bartley told Radio TAB’s Past The Post. “It’s the front tendon that goes over the shin. It holds the leg up when she walks, it makes her leg go forward.
“The most important thing at the time was to save her life. She was in plaster for 10 weeks. It was just incredible it healed the way it did.
“I had some good horse people who told me this won’t affect her, which I found hard to believe, but we took it off, trotted her up and it was just amazing.”
Bartley sent In Good Time north, searching for dryer tracks, and he landed in the right spot at Eagle Farm.
“She looks a million dollars. At the moment she’s in a good space,” he said.
Next month’s Grafton Ramornie is the next target and he’s not sure if In Good Time will run again before that race, or just trial, depending on what advice Bartley receives from Barry Lockwood, who is stabling the mare during her Queensland stay.
“Barry rung me Sunday morning and said she’d pulled up terrific,” he said.
“He’s a go-to man for sure. “I’ve known Barry for 20-30 years. I stay with him all the time when we go up.
“He’s great company, he’s a very good horseman and a very good farrier, which not a lot of people know.”
Bartley still thinks often of Sniper’s Bullet, who was only a borderline chance of gaining a Stradbroke start before sneaking into the field for his 2007 win.
“Geez the rest is history,” he said.
“I was only six years into training. To get a Group 1 horse and to pull that off – what a wonderful horse he was for all of us.”
LADBROKES WEEKEND REPORT
Best Result – Love You Lucy, Eagle Farm, Race 9
There was no support for Love You Lucy and we took the lot in the final race of the day.
Best Backed & Worst Result – Vanna Girl, Eagle Farm Race 7
Vanna Girl has proven to be a very costly horse for us this campaign. She was very well-backed again and just keeps winning.
MARKETS – LADBROKES
The Everest, run October 17
(bets refunded if horse does not get a slot)
$4.20 Nature Strip
$9 Bivouac
$12 Alligator Blood, Classique Legend, Farnan, Gytrash
$15 Loving Gaby, Rothfire, Santa Ana Lane
$17 Doubtland
$19 Masked Crusader, Tofane, Trekking
$26+ Others
THIS WEEK
Tuesday: Warwick, Nowra, Tamworth, Ballarat (synthetic)
Wednesday: Ipswich, Warwick Farm, Sandown Hillside, Gawler, Belmont, Darwin
Thursday: Townsville, Wyong, Seymour, Northam
Friday: Gold Coast, Coffs Harbour, Pakenham (synthetic), Canberra
Saturday: Doomben, Randwick, Flemington, Morphettville, Belmont, Dalby, Emerald, Innisfail, Mount Isa, Roma, Newcastle, Donald, Alice Springs
Sunday: Sunshine Coast, Coonamble, Wagga, Bendigo, Port Augusta, Carnarvon
THE QUOTE
“To win a big race like that, having my first starter in one, because I’d never had a horse good enough, I was over the moon.” Barry Squair, 79, on Love You Lucy’s Group 2 boilover.
THE TALKING POINT
How high can Vanna Girl go? Bad barriers have not been enough to stop her winning run. Her level of improvement will determine if she can take the next step against what will undoubtedly be much tougher opposition, but the fact she’s pretty much done it all on one preparation is cause for optimism.
THE RIDE
Brad Stewart managed to slot Vanna Girl in from the tricky 1800m start in front of a few stragglers, which made her task a little easier and then took the ascendancy on Gaulois when the offer presented itself.
THREE TO BACK
Red Doulton, Race 2: Encouraging return
Be Water My Friend/One Shy Ruby, Race 4: Both stepped out of maiden grade and measured up strongly.
La Pulga, Race 8: Going great guns and very good for this grade.
RISK
Military Zone, Race 8: Continues to race consistently, but has struggled to put rivals away in the past 12 months.
THE FLOP
Another Dollar, Race 5: Just didn’t let down on the firm surface (not alone there) and was never a factor.
SHARP SHOOTERS
Those who were part of the plonk on Niccanova would count themselves unlucky. Backed from as high as $4 midweek to start $2.10, the start proved costly, yet he was still only beaten a bob of the head.