King Of The Mountain scratching drama forces review into the system for future slot races

Queensland slot-holders who scratch their horse without a veterinary certificate will now receive the last-place prizemoney following a review by Racing Queensland.

Racing Queensland (RQ) will launch a review into the controversial scratching system after Mike Sherrin lost $40,000 for his King of the Mountain slot and the chance to pick an emergency for the $750,000 race at Toowoomba last month.

RQ rules state that if a horse is withdrawn from a slot race, then a veterinary certificate must be provided to stewards.

Sherrin owned the slot for southern raider Boston Rocks, which was scratched 24 hours before the King Of The Mountain, but without a veterinary certificate, after the Toowoomba surface was downgraded to a Heavy 8.

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

Boston Rocks was a late withdrawal from the King Of The Mountain Picture: Bradley Photos

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

Sherrin, who pre-trains and spells horses on his property near Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, at the time labelled the system as a “joke” and “amateurish”.

“RQ has agreed to pay the last-place prizemoney ($10,000) which Mike has accepted and is satisfied with the outcome,” RQ’s acting chief executive Lachlan Murray said on Sunday.

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“RQ has undertaken a review of the King Of The Mountain and identified a number of improvements to slot races going forward, one of which is entitling slot-holders to last-place prizemoney if their horse is scratched for a reason other than having a veterinary certificate.”

Thoroughbred Alliance Queensland (TAQ) is hoping to avoid any repeat of the scratching fiasco for the $1m The Archer slot race (1300m) in Rockhampton on May 4.

A slot in The Archer costs $70,000.

Talented sprinter Steady Ready takes out the $750,000 King Of The Mountain Picture: Melanie Ward, Trackside Photography

TAQ boss Cameron Partington said the alliance was happy that RQ had acknowledged the “unsatisfactory circumstances” that led to Sherrin being denied a chance to pick an emergency horse for the King Of The Mountain, won by local sprinter Steady Ready on March 28.

“The fact that RQ have ‘made good’ with Mike Sherrin now is very pleasing to the alliance,” he said.

“We will always strive to uphold what’s right and fair, and more importantly ensure that there is confidence and good faith in our industry for all participants.

“We will now work with RQ and QRIC (Queensland Racing Integrity Commission) to see changes made to ensure this situation can’t happen again because it negatively impacts the slot-holders, wagering and the integrity of our slot races.”

Sherrin, who planned to enter next month’s The Archer and is a major sponsor of the event, said he appreciated the support from the TAQ in “helping put the negotiations back on the table and resolve the issue”.