King Of The Mountain slot-holder slams scratching policy as a ‘joke’ after losing $40,000

A King Of The Mountain slot-holder is furious after he lost $40,000 when his runner was scratched on Friday morning.

A furious Mike Sherrin has labelled the scratching system a “joke” after he lost $40,000 for his King Of The Mountain slot and the chance to pick an emergency for the $750,000 race at Toowoomba on Friday.

To help protect slot-holders from connections scratching on race day, due mainly to poor track conditions, Racing Queensland rules state that if a horse is withdrawn from a slot race, then a veterinary certificate must be provided to stewards.

• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet’s team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!

Sherrin owned the slot for southern raider Boston Rocks, who doesn’t like a wet track and was scratched on Thursday morning, but without a veterinary certificate, after the Toowoomba surface was downgraded to a Heavy 8.

On Friday morning there were five more scratchings from the 1200m race – Tony Gollan’s pair Comrade Rosa and King Kapa, plus emergencies Lost In Transit, Mishani Sniper and Master Showman.

But because Gollan sought veterinary certificates for his scratched horses, he was able to select wet-tracker Brereton as a replacement in the hunt for the $350,000 first prize.

• ‘It still haunts me’: Group 1 star’s amazing flood rescue revealed

“How it’s played out now really makes a joke of the whole thing,” said a livid Sherrin, who pre-trains and spells horses on his property near Noosa on the Sunshine Coast.

“It’s very amateurish. I think it was very poorly handled. The agreements were loose and we believe we should’ve had a right to choose an emergency.

“That’s the cruel thing about it. There’s nothing in there to ensure that owners and trainers fulfil their obligations.”

Michael Sherrin is $40,000 out of pocket after Boston Rocks was scratched from the King Of The Mountain slot race.

Asked whether his distressing situation would force a change in the system, the Sheralee Racing owner said: “I’m sure it will. I think a lot of people have egg on their faces.

“It’s bizarre, isn’t it? We always had a one in 12 chance of winning the first prize so it’s not just 40 grand lost, it’s a chance at $350,000.”

• Ahrens daring to dream with $3000 bargain buy

Racing Queensland acting chief executive Lachlan Murray said the rules on scratchings for the KOTM slot race were made crystal-clear to Boston Rocks’ connections this week.

“We understand the disappointment of connections, but the terms and conditions of the race include the implications of scratching without a veterinary certificate,” he said.

“Each slot-holder acknowledges that as part of their application and it was reiterated to the connections of Boston Rocks when they contacted RQ about it earlier this week.”

Thoroughbred Alliance Queensland spokesman Cameron Partington called for better lines of communication between RQ and owners/connections to avoid a repeat of the Boston Rocks scenario.

“The alliance is very concerned with the lack of clarity of communication to the industry, the interpretation of these rules and the implications when they’re not followed,” he said.

“We’ve given a commitment to seeking a solution to the problem.”

Originally published as King Of The Mountain slot-holder slams scratching policy as a ‘joke’ after losing $40,000